European Pet Organization

What European Pet Organization does

The European Pet Organization (EPO) is a Brussels-facing trade association, founded in Vienna in April 1990 and headquartered in Amersfoort, the Netherlands. It is the sole pan-European organization exclusively dedicated to representing the pet sector — covering dogs, cats, small mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and invertebrates — at EU level. EPO is governed by a board comprising a President, four Vice Presidents, a Treasurer, and supported by a Secretary General, a Scientific Coordinator, and a small secretariat of approximately 8 staff.

EPO does not sell products or services; its core "deliverables" are policy advocacy, position papers, charter guidance, AGM and seminar events, and stakeholder convening. Its underlying capability is institutional: registration on the EU Transparency Register, seats on the EU Platform on Animal Welfare and EP Intergroup Advisory Boards, and recurring engagement with the European Commission, Parliament, and CITES on issues including dog and cat welfare and traceability, positive lists, invasive alien species, and illegal wildlife trade.

EPO's revenue model is membership-based. Full members are national pet trade associations (including Germany's ZZF and IVH, France's JAF and PRODAF, the UK's OATA, the Netherlands' DIBEVO, Austria's WKO, Norway's NZB, and Belgium's Ani-Zoo & Andibel as of 2026). In 2024 EPO adopted a new associate member category for industry companies, with Fressnapf Group (€4B+ revenue, 2,100+ stores, 18,000 employees), Das Futterhaus (430+ locations), and BolognaFiere Cosmoprof (Zoomark) joining as first associate members. GTM is relationship-driven, relying on EU institutional events (Green Week, EP Intergroups, CITES), participation in Interzoo and Zoomark trade fairs, and LinkedIn/web presence to reach members and policymakers. No pricing, app, SDK, or proprietary technology is disclosed.

Name

European Pet Organization

Legal name

European Pet Organization

Website

https://europets.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The European Pet Organization (EPO) is a Brussels-facing trade association, founded in 1990 and headquartered in Amersfoort, the Netherlands. It represents national pet trade associations and, since 2024, industry companies, before EU institutions on pet sector policy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Trade Association & Industry Advocacy

NAICS

Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services (81291)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Pet Care & Pet Services Platforms (Sitting, Walking, Grooming) (BPAMAHAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Pet & Animal Expos (MPAGAFAI), Veterinary Regulatory Authorities (Licensing, Compliance & Enforcement) (HLAMAJAC)

Keywords

• Pet trade association
• EU policy advocacy
• Animal welfare
• Industry representation
• Membership organization

Headquarters

HQ city

Amersfoort

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The European Pet Organization (EPO) is a trade association that represents and advocates for the European pet sector at the EU level. Founded in Vienna in April 1990, EPO provides a unified voice for national pet trade associations and pet industry companies before European institutions, coordinating policy positions on animal welfare, traceability, wildlife trade (CITES), and invasive alien species regulations. Its core offering consists of membership-based advocacy services, scientific coordination, stakeholder engagement with EU institutions, and facilitation of networking among European pet trade associations.

Product overview

The European Pet Organization (EPO) is a trade association representing the European pet sector at EU level. EPO is not a product company but rather an industry organization that engages in policy advocacy, stakeholder coordination, and member services including organizing events such as seminars and Annual General Meetings, producing publications such as manifestos and position papers, and facilitating dialogue between the pet industry and EU institutions. EPO's activities focus on protecting and promoting responsible pet keeping, influencing EU legislation affecting the sector, and fostering collaboration among national pet trade associations across Europe.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Full Membership for National Pet Trade Associations
• Associate Membership for Pet Industry Companies
• EU Policy Advocacy Services
• Scientific Coordination Services

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Ani-Zoo & Andibel (Belgium)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 April 2026Belgian federations Ani-Zoo and Andibel joined EPO as a joint full member in 2026, representing more than 200 members and approximately 80% of Belgian professional breeders, generating an estimated €3.5 billion annually. They aim to support EPO's work at EU level on issues important to pet breeders and sellers.
• REPTA (Reptile & Exotic Pet Trade Association)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 March 2026EPO endorsed REPTA's Deleterious Gene Policy, a science-based initiative addressing animal welfare concerns linked to selective breeding of reptiles. EPO's endorsement reflects its commitment to promoting high standards of animal welfare across all companion animal sectors including reptiles.
• EU Platform on Animal WelfarecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 October 2025EPO joined the EU Platform on Animal Welfare as a new member in October 2025. The platform brings together the European Commission, veterinary organizations, breeders, animal welfare organizations, and pet sector stakeholders to discuss animal welfare policy implementation.
• BolognaFiere Cosmoprof (Zoomark)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 May 2025BolognaFiere Cosmoprof, organizer of Zoomark (a leading international pet industry trade fair with over 1,300 exhibitors and 30,000 professional visitors), became an EPO Associate Member in May 2025, strengthening Zoomark's institutional role and commitment to responsible pet ownership.
• ZZF ForummajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2025EPO Secretary General Nathalie Gamain attended the ZZF Forum 2025 in Wiesbaden, Germany (April 1-2, 2025), sharing insights on challenges the pet sector faces at EU level and the EU arena functioning. ZZF celebrated EPO's 35th anniversary at this event.
• International Pet Conference / Pet WorldwidemajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 16 October 2024EPO attended as sponsor and participant the International Pet Conference 2024 held in Brussels on October 16-17, 2024. The conference focused on innovation and sustainability within the pet sector and provided networking opportunities with key pet sector players.
• Fressnapf GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 July 2024Fressnapf Group, the European market leader for pet supplies with over 2,100 stores and 18,000 employees across 14 countries, became one of EPO's first Associate Members in 2024. Annual sales exceed 4 billion euros. The group operates under the vision 'Happier Pets. Happier People.' and creates an omnichannel ecosystem around pets.
• Das FutterhausmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 July 2024Das Futterhaus, with over 430 locations in Germany and Austria (384 in Germany including franchise partners, 48 in Austria) and more than 4,000 employees, joined as one of EPO's first Associate Members in 2024. Has been dealing with everything around pets for 37 years.
• WZF (Wirtschaftsgemeinschaft Zoologischer Fachbetriebe GmbH)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 July 2024WZF is the fully-owned business entity of ZZF (German Pet Trade & Industry Association). It provides services, products, and platforms for the pet industry including trade shows (Interzoo), publishing, training, and Ringstelle (state agency for identification markings for protected species). Co-organizer of Interzoo with ~2,150 exhibitors from 70 countries.
• ZZF (Zentralverband Zoologischer Fachbetriebe Deutschlands e.V.)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2024ZZF is the German Pet Trade & Industry Association and a founding member of EPO (founded in 1990 alongside other national associations). ZZF hosts EPO board meetings at its Wiesbaden headquarters and supports EPO's activities. ZZF's fully-owned business entity WZF co-organizes Interzoo, the world's leading pet industry trade fair.
• European Parliament Intergroup on Climate Change, Biodiversity & Sustainable Development (CCBSD)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 March 2024EPO joined the Advisory Board of the EP Intergroup on CCBSD, aiming to better contribute to EP agenda discussions by sharing its expertise on climate change, biodiversity, and sustainable development issues relevant to the pet sector. EPO strongly supports the Intergroup's relaunch for the EU term 2024-2029.
• IVH (Industrieverband Heimtierbedarf e.V.)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024IVH, the German National Association representing pet food and pet supplies industry (with ~60 member companies representing ~90% of German market), became a full member of EPO as of January 1, 2024. IVH aims to support EPO on EU-level issues that directly impact its industry.
• Jardineries et Animaleries de France (JAF)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 June 2023JAF, the French federation of garden centers and pet shops with nearly 1,600 member stores, joined EPO as a new member. JAF serves as an advocate for garden centers and pet shops in France, representing and defending their interests with French and European institutions.
• EASIN (European Alien Species Information Network) / EU funded IAS projectminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 September 2022EPO contributed for two years to a EU funded project on raising awareness on Invasive Alien Species (IAS). EPO joined the project's final meeting and contributed communications materials (poster and video) dedicated to raising awareness on IAS linked to pets and aquatic ornamentals.
• OATA (Ornamental Aquatic Trade Association)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 May 2022OATA, the UK member of EPO, represents the ornamental aquatic trade. EPO President Svein A. Fosså and OATA's Dominic Whitmee (also EPO Vice President) attend CITES meetings on behalf of EPO, contributing to working documents of interest to the pet sector.
• IPAC (International Pet Advisory Council)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 May 2022EPO and its members participate in IPAC, a global network of pet trade associations initiated by EPO President Svein A. Fosså in Fall 2021. IPAC facilitates international collaboration on pet trade policies and brings together associations from around the world.
• OFI (Ornamental Fish International)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2019OFI and EPO collaborate on CITES issues of interest to the ornamental aquatic industry, including representations on captive breeding approaches, marine ornamental species, and sustainable trade matters.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Pet Advocacy Network: Pet Advocacy Network is a US-based pet industry advocacy organization that awarded EPO's president its Nancy G. Knutson Lifetime Achievement Award in 2025. Direct functional peer in advocating responsible pet ownership and favorable policy for the pet sector.
• FEDIAF (European Pet Food Industry Federation): FEDIAF is the EU-level federation representing the European pet food industry, publishing the annual European Pet Food Industry Facts & Figures report cited by EPO. Both organizations operate at the EU level representing pet sector stakeholders to EU institutions, with overlapping membership and complementary advocacy remits.
• Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (PIJAC): PIJAC is the North American pet industry trade association representing retailers, manufacturers, breeders, and distributors to US/Canadian policymakers. It is structurally the most direct international analog to EPO, performing the same trade-association advocacy function across the Atlantic.
• World Pet Association (WPA): WPA operates SuperZoo, one of North America's premier pet industry trade shows, and provides industry education/networking—mirroring EPO's role in co-organizing Interzoo (via WZF partnership) and the Brussels Members Seminar. Direct peer in pet industry event and trade association space.

Broad incumbents

• American Pet Products Association (APPA): APPA is the largest US pet industry trade association, producing the influential National Pet Owners Survey and Global Pet Expo. Like EPO, it represents the full pet products/services ecosystem to policymakers and consumers, but operates at broader scale with deeper commercial focus.

Others

• The Pet Food Institute (PFI): PFI is the US trade association representing pet food manufacturers, providing nutrition research, regulatory affairs support, and policy advocacy. Thematically aligned with EPO's IVH full member (representing German pet food manufacturers) and serves as an adjacent segment peer rather than a direct EU competitor.
• International Pet Advisory Council (IPAC): IPAC is a global network of pet trade associations initiated by EPO President Svein A. Fosså in Fall 2021. It is an EPO-led initiative rather than an independent peer, but functions as an adjacent enabling platform that extends EPO's reach internationally.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/european-pet-organization

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about European Pet Organization