The conference marked the publication of the European Commission's evaluation of the Animal Health Law and unveiled 11 priority actions to further strengthen its implementation across the European Union. On July 8th, 2026, EPO participated in the European Commission conference celebrating the 10th anniversary of the EU Animal Health Law (AHL). Bringing together around 130 representatives from EU institutions, Member States, veterinary authorities, academia and stakeholder organisations, the event provided an opportunity to reflect on a decade of achievements while discussing the future direction of EU animal health policy. A Decade of Progress under the Animal Health Law The conference was officially opened by Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare, Olivér Várhelyi, who highlighted the strategic importance of animal health in safeguarding public health, strengthening food security and supporting the resilience of Europe's animal sectors through a strong One Health approach. A key milestone of the event was the presentation of the European Commission's evaluation of the Animal Health Law, carried out under the Better Regulation Initiative. The evaluation concluded that the legislation remains fit for purpose, while identifying opportunities to further strengthen its implementation and ensure it continues to respond effectively to emerging challenges. Looking Ahead: 11 Priority Actions Building on the evaluation, the European Commission presented 11 priority actions that will guide the next phase of implementation of the Animal Health Law. These actions are grouped under three strategic pillars: Administrative improvements to simplify procedures and enhance harmonisation across Member States; Veterinary priorities, including stronger disease prevention, preparedness, biosecurity and vaccination; Cross-cutting actions to reinforce the One Health approach, strengthen animal welfare and improve cooperation between competent authorities and stakeholders. Throughout the conference, speakers consistently emphasised the importance of science-based policymaking, effective implementation and close collaboration among public authorities, veterinarians, researchers and stakeholders. These principles were recognised as essential to ensuring that the Animal Health Law continues to protect animal health, public health and the sustainability of Europe's animal sectors. EPO Looks Forward to Continued Collaboration As the voice of the pet sector at European level, EPO welcomes the European Commission's continued commitment to strengthening the Animal Health Law and ensuring that its implementation remains practical, proportionate and effective. EPO would like to sincerely thank the European Commission Animal Health team for organising such an insightful and well-structured conference. The event successfully celebrated ten years of progress while setting a clear roadmap for the years ahead. EPO looks forward to continuing its close collaboration with the European Commission and all relevant stakeholders to support the successful implementation of the Animal Health Law and to ensure that the expertise and specific realities of the European pet sector continue to be recognised in the development of future EU animal health policies.

On June 3rd, 2026, EPO, as the voice of the pet sector at European level, contributed to a high-level event held at the European Parliament under the umbrella of the MEP Group on Climate Change, Biodiversity and Sustainable Development entitled “The New EU Rules on the Welfare and Traceability of Dogs and Cats – Delivering Effective Implementation.” Hosted by MEP Manuela Ripa, Rapporteur for the European Parliament's ENVI Committee on this file, the event brought together policymakers, European Commission representatives, veterinarians, breeders, animal welfare organisations and pet sector stakeholders to discuss the implementation of the newly adopted EU Regulation on the welfare and traceability of dogs and cats. The event attracted a full house and strong engagement from participants, including four Members of the European Parliament from across the political spectrum: MEP Manuela Ripa (EPP, Germany), MEP Tilly Metz (Greens/EFA, Luxembourg), MEP Petras Auštrevičius (Renew Europe, Lithuania) and MEP Carola Everding (The Left, Germany), alongside policy advisers from several political groups involved in the legislative process. As the voice of the pet sector at European level, EPO welcomed the opportunity to contribute to discussions on this landmark legislation and its implementation. During his intervention, EPO President Svein A. Fosså highlighted EPO's constructive engagement throughout the legislative process and its support for a harmonised framework that strengthens animal welfare, improves traceability and helps combat illegal trade while remaining practical, proportionate and enforceable. A key focus of the event was the transition from legislation to implementation. Speakers and participants emphasised that the success of the new rules will depend on close cooperation between EU institutions, Member States and stakeholders. In this context, EPO underlined the important contribution that the pet sector can make by providing practical expertise and real-world experience to support the effective implementation of the Regulation. The event also provided an important opportunity to further raise the profile of the pet sector within the European Parliament and among EU decision-makers. The strong level of participation demonstrated the growing recognition of the role that responsible pet sector stakeholders can play in supporting the objectives of the Regulation, including improved animal welfare, enhanced traceability, greater consumer confidence and the fight against illegal trade. As attention now turns to the development of the delegated and implementing acts that will shape the practical application of the Regulation, EPO looks forward to continuing its dialogue with EU institutions, Member States and stakeholders and to contributing its expertise to support effective and workable implementation across the European Union.

On May 14th, 2026, EPO held its traditional Seminar at Interzoo in Nuremberg, bringing together EPO members, partners and friends from across Europe and beyond for an afternoon of exchange, discussion and networking. As every Interzoo edition demonstrates, the EPO Seminar remains a valuable opportunity for the pet community to meet face-to-face, strengthen relationships and discuss the key policy, scientific and regulatory developments affecting the sector. The 2026 seminar featured a diverse programme covering several topics of major relevance to the pet sector. Participants received an overview of the newly adopted EU Regulation on the welfare and traceability of dogs and cats from Andrea Gavinelli, Head of Unit for Animal Welfare at the European Commission's Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE), providing timely insights into one of the most significant legislative developments affecting companion animals in Europe. The seminar also explored important scientific and husbandry-related topics. Dr. Tracey King, EPO Scientific Coordinator, presented on the relationship between domestication, adaptation and the need to avoid extreme traits in companion animals- as an outcome of the EPO Working Group on Domestication and Extreme Breeding, while Charles Thompson of the Reptile & Exotic Pet Trade Association (REPTA) discussed the management of deleterious genes in modern herpetoculture. These presentations generated lively discussions among participants and highlighted the sector's commitment to responsible animal keeping and continuous improvement in animal welfare practices. As in previous years, one of the greatest strengths of the EPO Seminar was the opportunity it provided for open dialogue among stakeholders from different backgrounds and countries. Through the roundtable discussions and exchanges with speakers, participants were able to share experiences, discuss common challenges and explore solutions to issues affecting the pet sector at both European and international levels. EPO would like to thank all speakers and participants for their valuable contributions and looks forward to continuing this tradition at future Interzoo events, ensuring that the seminar remains an important platform for dialogue, cooperation and knowledge-sharing within the global pet community.