EUROPEAN PET ORGANIZATION (EPO) MANIFESTO 2024-2029
FOR PET LOVERS & PET OWNERS

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Pets - comprised of several thousand different species, ranging from dogs and cats to small mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish and invertebrates - are an important part of our social, cultural and economic fabric:

• in 2021, Euromonitor International estimated that household expenditure on pets was approximately €37 billion across EU Member States1 and over quarter of a million people were directly employed in the pet industry.
• According to FEDIAF EuropeanPetFood’s European recent statistics for 2022 on pet ownership and the pet industry, an estimated 166 million households own at least one pet animal, with pet ownership generating over 2,5 million jobs (both directly and indirectly). In addition, it estimates that in 2022, the contribution of the pet food industry (together with associated supplies and services) generated €53,8 billion to the European economy

The mutualistic human-animal bond is one that has persisted through history, with a wide variety of animals having been kept successfully as pets, with evidence of pet ownership going back thousands of years. The importance of the human-animal bond is well documented, with evidence demonstrating that this mutualistic bond improves people’s well-being and positively contributes to the economy. Furthermore, pets can benefit from this bond as the life expectancy of animals in human care is usually much longer than the life expectancy in the wild considering the feed and veterinary care provided5. For many people, this bond is a direct connection to nature for both adults and children alike.

The legal and legitimate pet trade strives to ensure high standards of animal welfare, the integrity of its supply chains and promoting responsible ownership. The legal and legitimate trade which we represent is committed to joining and working together with others to address how illegal and illicit activity can be prevented, to ensure the integrity of its supply chains in the animals traded and kept as pets - i.e. they are sourced legally, sustainably and responsibly and ensuring good welfare standards.

The vast majority of animals kept as pets are legally traded and kept in good conditions by both responsible and knowledgeable sellers and owners. The keeping of pets has enabled us to develop a wealth of information about their needs giving us the ability to ensure they are met. Animal hobbies also often contribute to broader knowledge and understanding of biology and the natural world.

People need to be properly educated so that their expectations can meet the animal’s needs - i.e. the right pet with the right owner in the right environment. This must be accompanied by ensuring the law to manage illegally traded species is effective and properly enforced.

EPO and its member organizations are proud to cooperate with regional breeders and breeding associations. These breeders and traders do an excellent job in terms of providing captive bred species

EPO IS A FIRM BELIEVER IN RESPONSIBLE PET KEEPING & A RESPONSIBLE PET TRADE,
REGULATED THROUGH RESPONSIBLE & SENSIBLE LEGISLATION.