EUROPEAN PET ORGANIZATION (EPO)
Created in Vienna in April 1990, the European Pet Organization (EPO) is the European organization protecting and promoting the interests of the European pet sector.
Its members -national pet trade associations in Europe - collaborate in order to promote best practices among the industry and responsible pet ownership as well as to strengthen their position on European and other international issues.
In 2024, EPO welcomed a new category of members: Associate Members. These are entities from the pet sector that already collaborate with EPO members and aim at supporting EPO with its activities at EU level.
EPO CHARTER
The European Pet Organization (EPO) is a coalition of parties interested in protecting and promoting the interests of the European pet sector.
EPO’s objective is to promote and support the vital and integral role of pet keeping to European society and the benefits delivered by the human-animal bond, based on collaborative and collegiate approaches between the best available scientific evidence and industry knowledge transfer and expertise.
EPO members:
• promote responsible pet ownership and recognise the social and health benefits of keeping pets;
• promote best practice in the keeping of animals to ensure the welfare and wellbeing of pets;
• believe that keeping pets promotes an understanding and appreciation of nature, biodiversity and conservation;
• regards pet-related businesses as being responsible for the professional care and transfer of ownership of pets and must promote best practice amongst the pet sector;
• believe that all those involved in the pet trade must abide by all current legislation on the trade, ownership and keeping of animals and reject all illegal practices;
• use and communicate the latest scientific and empirical knowledge in providing advice about keeping pet animals;
• reject the release of pet animals into the wild;
• are in favour of diversified husbandry of pets of different species in order to obtain important knowledge for breeding and species conservation;
• are committed to comply with the regulations of the Washington Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora;
• are against practices which cause a pet animal species avoidable pain, suffering or harm;
• believe that all those professionally responsible for commercially breeding and handling pet animals must be appropriately trained and have a comprehensive understanding of the animals' welfare needs and the respective legal obligations;
• ensure the dissemination of relevant information regarding the trade and keeping of pet animals within the sector;
• strive for good collaboration and exchange of information amongst its members, within the pet sector and with government.
European Pet Organization (EPO)
Computerweg 16
3821 AB Amersfoort
The Netherlands
