Photo Copyright: ZZF/Peter Nierhoff On April 1st and 2nd, 2025, EPO Secretary General, Nathalie Gamain, attended the ZZF Forum 2025 in Wiesbaden, Germany. Interviewed by Antje Schreiber, ZZF Head of Division Communication & Management of the ZZA Magazine, Nathalie shared with the audience the latest challenges the pet sector faces at EU level, while sharing some insights on the EU arena functioning.ZZF President, Norbert Holthenrich, and ZZF Managing Director, Gordon Bonnet, surprised the Secretary General by celebrating EPO 35th anniversary. "If EPO didn't exist, it would have to be founded! 35 years ago, ZZF, the German Pet Trade & Industry Association, was a founding member of EPO and has played a key role in shaping its fortunes. EPO is the ideal platform for the intensive exchange of ideas and the representation of interests for all matters concerning the pet industry in Europe" said Gordon Bonnet in his intervention while wishing EPO "all the best for the 35th anniversary and thanking EPO for its great work!” Photo Copyright: ZZF/Peter Nierhoff

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.