Learning from America

There’s not enough public recognition for the achievements of the European pet product industry. National governments and the EU authorities fail to register the fact that this is a growing sector that is responsible for creating an increasing number of jobs. There isn’t even a general public consensus regarding the socio-political benefit of pet owning. Industry representatives accordingly have a tough time keeping politicians from adopting laws that tend to be detrimental to pet owning. It’s different in the USA. In APPA, the pet product industry in the United States has a voice that can make itself heard unmistakably when the interests of the sector are at stake. The association even has an established Government and Regulatory Affairs Department, the activities of which are directed towards the advancement of its members and the pet industry through member cooperation and advocacy. APPA also regularly conducts surveys of pet owners. Every year the association presents the latest market data at the Global Pet Expo, and this shows the economic significance of the pet supplies sector. APPA is well networked and undertakes regular lobbying for the good of its members. This has an effect. With a sales volume of over $50 bn, the pet supplies sector in the USA has attained a size that puts many other sectors in the shade. By its tireless efforts over the years, APPA has succeeded in raising the profile of the pet sector substantially in collaboration with other companies and institutions. In Europe, consistent lobbying for the benefit of the sector is doubtless not so easy to implement. Not all countries have interest groups, and if they do, these groups often pursue widely varying interests which are difficult to bring together under one common denominator. FEDIAF, the umbrella association of the European pet food industry, has now taken an important step by publishing facts and figures about the pet supplies sector (see report on page 6). The figures are actually impressive and show that even in Europe the pet product industry is far from small, as many politicians believe. 70 million households have a pet, 550 000 jobs depend on the pet supplies sector, and the volume of sales of the pet food industry amounts to €13.5 bn. These figures may not be comparable with those of the American pet product industry, but FEDIAF’s defiant move shows that perhaps even in Europe the sector is becoming more willing to present itself more dynamically in public. Yours Ralf…