On April 1st, 2025 EPO celebrates a unique milestone: its 35 years anniversary! “Pets are an essential part of modern people’s life. Across Europe, more than 166 million households keep some kind of pets, be it dogs, cats, small mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish or invertebrates. The diversity is immense, and it has to be so, in order to make sure that everyone can find an animal that suits them, their interests, their competences and their way of life. Diversity is key in the world of pet keeping.Over the last 35 years, the European Pet Organization has worked together with our members to represent the pet sector and support and defend this diversity within the frames of responsible, regulated and sustainable pet keeping and trade. EPO is present in discussions with the European Parliament, Council and Commission, with representatives of EU Member States, and in international negotiations, to make the knowledge, experience and views of the sector heard and taken into account whenever decisions that can affect us are on the table.I will take this opportunity to thank everyone who have played a part in EPO’s activities over the years, on either side of the tables. We look forward to many more years of being a proactive and responsible voice for and defender of pets in our society”,Svein A. Fosså, President of the European Pet Organization (EPO) Discover here EPO members testimonies marking this special day!

Matthias Jesenko & Michael Kerschhackel from WKO, Austria attended on behalf of EPO the 78th CITES Standing Committee that took place in Geneva from February 3rd  to 8th, 2025. Several agenda items of interest were discussed including: The role of cites in reducing future zoonotic disease emergence via the international wildlife trade,  IPBES assessment on sustainable use of wild species Engagement of indigenous peoples and local communities Livelihoods Transaction codes Electronic systems and information technology Trade in stony corals Review of cites provisions related to trade in specimens of animals and plants not of wild source EPO position document can be viewed here.

Meet EPO Secretary General, Nathalie Gamain, at the ZZF Forum taking place in Wiesbaden, Germany on April 1st and 2nd, 2025. The agenda provides a good base for discussion on the following topics:- pet trade trends- human animal bond- Hobby farming and cat feeding- Internet reviewsInterested to join this two days event, please consult its dedicated website for its agenda and registration at https://zzf-forum.de