Equell is BETA NOPS Accredited: Why does this matter?

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. These are compounds that can inadvertently appear in feed or supplements through natural contamination (like certain weeds or fungi). These include substances 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. Links to the relevant prohibited substances lists are found below:

 

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, total confidence that our products can be used safely and legally 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 all 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