What Is BETA NOPS Accreditation? Why It Matters for Competition Horses

Clean Sport. Total Confidence.

Equell supplements are Proudly BETA NOPS & UFAS Accredited

At Equell, we understand how much trust it takes to put a supplement in your horse’s feed bowl - especially when that horse is your competition partner, your teammate, and your pride and joy. That’s why from day one, we’ve committed to the highest standards of safety, traceability, and integrity.

We’re proud to share that Equell is fully accredited by both the UFAS and the BETA NOPS schemes, giving our customers complete peace of mind when it comes to product quality and clean sport compliance.

What Does UFAS Mean?

The Universal Feed Assurance Scheme (UFAS) is a globally recognised standard for feed safety and traceability, ensuring that every stage of our manufacturing - from ingredient sourcing to final packaging - is carried out under strict quality controls.

In simple terms, UFAS accreditation means:
✔ Every ingredient is fully traceable
✔ Our manufacturing partners meet rigorous hygiene and quality standards
✔ The entire production process is audited and verified independently

So when you choose Equell, you’re choosing feed-grade safety from farm to feed scoop.

What Is BETA NOPS & Why Do NOPS Matter?

NOPS stands for Naturally Occurring Prohibited Substances, updated in 2025 to Natural and Other Prohibited Substances. Natural substances are compounds that can inadvertently appear in feed or supplements through natural contamination (like certain weeds or fungi), whilst prohibited substances include things like caffeine, morphine, or hordenine - banned under competition rules by organisations like the FEI, BHA, and national federations like British Eventing, British Dressage and British Showjumping.

Prohibited substances can inadvertently come from human medications (some paracetamol contains caffeine), food (sweets, cocoa, pastries), drinks (tea, coffee and energy drinks containing caffeine), recreational drugs and supplements. The person responsible for the horse (in most cases the rider) is the one any sanctions will be placed upon, so it is extremely important that your team understand the significance of clean sport and the possible sources of contamination outside of simply what your horse eats.

The list of banned substances varies under the British Horseracing Authority and the FEI, they are also regularly updated so it is important to keep up to date! If you are unsure about any product you are using you can ask your vet and/or the manufacturer for clarification. If you want to check a specific ingredient or substance, use this link to the FEI prohibited substances database list.

The British Equestrian Trade Association (BETA) NOPS Code sets out rigorous manufacturing controls to minimise the risk of NOPS contamination. This includes:

• Ingredient risk assessments
• Secure supplier audits
• Dedicated production protocols
• Clean-down procedures between production runs
• Laboratory testing for prohibited substances

By being BETA NOPS accredited, Equell demonstrates full compliance with these strict procedures. This gives you, the rider or trainer, confidence that our products can be used in competition.

Why It Matters for You and Your Horse

Whether you’re riding at grassroots or representing your country, Clean Sport matters. Riders across disciplines are becoming more aware of the risks associated with using non-accredited supplements - where even trace contamination can lead to failed tests, sanctions or even worse, health consequences for the horse such as neurological effects, cardiovascular stress or gastrointestinal upset.

At Equell, we take that responsibility seriously. We work only with UFAS and NOPS accredited manufacturing partners, and ingredients are regularly screened for NOPS. Using our products mean you can focus on the important things like training, competing and enjoying your horse!  

We don’t believe in cutting corners, and we’ll never compromise safety for profit. That’s our promise.

Our Tips to Reduce the Risk of Contamination

• Ensure you use BETA NOPS approved feeds and supplements. Check for the logos on the back of the packets and ask the manufacturer or supplier if you are unsure.
• Keep note of every batch number for feed and supplements that enters the feed room, as well as noting the dates they were used from/to and which horses consumed them. Whilst this will not reduce the risk of contamination per se, it will provide a robust defence in the event of a positive test ever occurring and help identify possible sources of contamination.
• Do not store feed for other animal species in the same location as horse feed. Often animal feed is medicated and this poses a risk of cross contamination
• If a horse is receiving medication, ensure that bucket (and any mixing implements/scoops etc) are kept separate from the rest of the horses feeds. Other horses should not use the same stable (or paddock) whilst the horse is on medication (and for a period after it has ceased, ask your vet for the recommended withdrawal time for specific medication) to minimise the risk of cross contamination through dropped feed, urine, droppings etc. 
• Regularly check paddocks and/or hay fields for weeds and remove anything you are unsure of. If you source your forage from a supplier, use a reputable one and don’t be afraid to ask questions about their weed control measures! 
• Ensure your wider team (including owners) are all aware of the importance of clean sport. The rider will receive any sanctions following result of a positive test so it is critical that your team understand the risks and know how to minimise them. Regular refresher training of existing staff as well as full briefings for new staff are invaluable. 
• Exercise caution when eating and drinking around competition horses. Spilling tea or coffee over hay that is later eaten by the horse, or feeding them a bit of your chocolate biscuit or packed lunch could result in a positive test for caffeine, theobromine or theophylline amongst others!
• Avoid sharing tack (particularly bits) where possible and try to allocate buckets to individual horses, regularly cleaning buckets, scoops and mixers with warm soapy water.
• When travelling to stay away shows ensure that transport vehicles are cleaned and disinfected before loading, use your own hay/haylage/feed/water buckets and ensure stables are disinfected prior to arrival and use your own clean, fresh bedding and hay to avoid cross contamination. 

Want to Check for Yourself?

You can view the logos on the back label of all our packs and check our BETA NOPS accreditation online via the official BETA NOPS directory, where our registration is publicly listed. If your horse is competing under FEI, BE, BS, BD, BHA or any other affiliated rules, you can feed Equell supplements with the assurance that they meet all required standards for quality and safety.

Manufacturers that don't have the NOPS accreditation and logos on their products are not members of the scheme. You should be wary of using any such products when competing under rules as they cannot guarantee their products are NOPS free. 

We're always happy to answer questions about product safety, ingredients, or manufacturing. Just drop our team a message at info@equell.co.uk.

Honest. Safe. Effective.

Equell was born from a desire to do better - for the horse, the rider, and the sport. That’s why safety, science, and transparency sit at the heart of every formula we create.

So whether you're feeding for gut health, joint care, hormonal balance, or muscle development, you can rest easy knowing you're giving your horse a supplement that is:

✅ Manufactured to the highest standards
✅ BETA NOPS accredited
✅ Backed by science
✅ Trusted by riders at every level

BETA NOPS Accredited Supplements Across Our Range
Every Equell product is manufactured in the same accredited facility, including our BETA NOPS accredited calmer, BETA NOPS accredited joint supplement and full range of NOPS accredited supplements whether you are feeding for gut health with Gut Food, respiratory health with Ultra Air , hormone support with Unity or muscle function and topline building with Muscle Up. 

FAQs

What is BETA NOPS accreditation?
BETA NOPS (Natural and Other Prohibited Substances) is a UK accreditation scheme for the feed and supplement industry. It requires manufacturers to follow strict protocols - including ingredient risk assessments, secure supplier audits, dedicated production procedures, clean-down processes between production runs and laboratory testing - all designed to minimise the risk of prohibited substances entering a product.

Does BETA NOPS accreditation guarantee my horse will pass a drug test?
No supplement or feed can offer that guarantee, and it's worth being wary of any brand that claims otherwise. BETA NOPS accreditation means Equell's manufacturing process is independently audited to minimise the risk of prohibited substances entering our products. Contamination can still occur from sources entirely outside a supplement manufacturer's control, so accreditation significantly reduces risk, rather than eliminating it.

What's the difference between BETA NOPS and UFAS?
Both are UK accreditation schemes, but they cover different things. UFAS (Universal Feed Assurance Scheme) focuses on overall feed safety and quality manufacturing standards. BETA NOPS specifically addresses the risk of naturally occurring prohibited substances entering feed, which matters specifically for competition horses subject to drug testing. Equell is accredited under both.

Are all Equell products BETA NOPS accredited?
Yes. Every product we manufacture, including our BETA NOPS accredited calmer, BETA NOPS accredited joint supplement, and our full range of gut health, respiratory and hormone support products, is made in a NOPS accredited facility.

How do I know if a supplement is suitable for competition?
Look for accreditation under a recognised scheme like BETA NOPS, check the ingredient list for anything your governing body prohibits, and if you're ever unsure, contact the manufacturer directly - a reputable brand should be able to answer specific questions about their manufacturing process and ingredient sourcing.