What is the BETA NOPS Code?

p3Horslyx supports ethical sport and monitors for the presence of specified Naturally Occurring Prohibited Substances (NOPS) as required under the rules of racing and affiliated competitions.  As such, Horslyx is proud to meet the requirements of the strict BETA NOPS Code to help improve traceability and to ensure control of prohibited substances.

What are NOPS and where do they come from?

You may be familiar with the term, prohibited substances, which is defined as “any substance that can exert an effect on a horse”. Naturally occurring prohibited substances, abbreviated to NOPS, is one that is either naturally present within certain ingredients or that occurs as a result of inadvertent cross contamination during processing before arriving at the feed manufacturer’s facility.

The most commonly found NOPS (and their sources) are…

  • Caffeine (cacao)
  • Theobromine (cacao)
  • Theophylline (tea)
  • Morphine (opium poppy, Papaver somniferum)
  • Hyoscine (nightshade, Datura)
  • Hordenine (germinating barley)
  • Atropine (nightshade – Atropa belladonna)
  • Nicotine (tobacco)

Previously the most commonly found NOPS had been derived from caffeine and theobromine, however with the increase in white poppy cultivation in the UK, morphine contamination has increased.

Richard Nichol Showjumping Hickstead

What does the Code mean for us?

The BETA NOPS Code requires Horslyx as a manufacturer to evaluate the risk of a NOPS contamination at every step of the sourcing, storage, transport and manufacturing processes of each of our products. Our raw material suppliers are regularly audited and staff are rigorously trained to ensure strict adherence to the code.

What does the Code mean for you?

You can rest assured that we have instilled the strictest measures to minimise the risk of a NOPS contamination.

All the raw materials going into the products you buy have been risk assessed before use and no ingredients that knowingly contain NOPS have been used.

The products you purchase have been regularly audited to ensure we are adhering to the code.

The code has been endorsed by the British Horseracing Authority and the National Trainer Association. When buying nutritional products for your horse or pony always look for the BETA NOPS logo as reassurance of the stringent quality management procedures undertaken by the manufacturer.

Our top tips for helping minimise the risk of NOPS

  • Ensure that all feed and supplements you purchase have the BETA NOPS logo on.
  • Be careful of products featuring the statements ‘contains no banned substances’ or ‘Jockey Club / FEI approved” as these are quite generalized and may not be justifiable.
  • Be careful about eating or drinking in the feed room or stable – drinking a can of coke and smoking a cigarette could lead to NOPS contamination in rare cases.
  • Appoint one individual who is responsible for recording the batch numbers of feed and supplements to ensure traceability.
  • Keep medicines and first aid products away from the feed room to prevent any cross contamination.

For more detailed information, and to see a list of all the companies complying to the BETA NOPS Code, click here