Pet Food Industry Associations

GAPFA (Global Alliance of Pet Food Industry Associations)

GAPFA brings together 13 national and regional pet food associations globally as well as corporate members with a focus on food for dogs and cats. GAPFA was officially established in November 2014 under Belgian law.

The GAPFA mission is to support the health and wellbeing of pets and to promote the benefits of living with them, by providing a forum for global industry consensus to address key mutual issues. Its vision is to be recognized as the global voice of the pet food industry. The focus of GAPFA is to harness the collective knowledge and experience of the global pet food industry with the objective to develop science-based global nutritional and safety standards which will provide reference and will facilitate trade of pet food.

Pet Food Institute (PFI)

Pet Food Institute (PFI) is the main Trade Association of dog and cat food manufacturers in the USA. Affiliate members of PFI include the leading suppliers of equipment, ingredients, packaging and services to the United States pet food industry.

The PFI was organized in 1958 as the national trade association of dog and cat food manufacturers in the United States of America. Active members of PFI produce 95% of the total dog and cat food tonnage in the United States. Affiliate members of PFI include the leading suppliers of equipment, ingredients, packaging and services to the United States pet food industry. PFI works closely with veterinarians, humane groups and local animal control officers to encourage responsible dog and cat ownership. It also represents the industry before legislative and regulatory bodies at the federal and state levels.

FEDIAF (European Pet Food Industry Federation)

Established in 1970, the Fédération Européenne de l’Industrie des Aliments pour Aminaux Familiers (FEDIAF), the European Pet Food Industry Federation, represents the pet food industry in Europe and unites the national professional organizations of 26 European countries, whether or not belonging to the EU, via 18 national or regional pet food industry associations. The FEDIAF represents around 650 companies responsible for producing more than 90% of European pet food. The national organizations represent manufacturers, packers and importers of prepared pet food, including foods for dogs, cats, birds, and other pets.

The FEDIAF represents the European pet food industry in all external forums. Through its national Associations, the FEDIAF also collaborates with local and national authorities. As a competent partner, FEDIAF cooperates with the European authorities to implement pet food law designed to ensure the manufacture and distribution of safe, nutritionally balanced and palatable pet food products. This has led to a development of Self Regulation in a form of three industry Codes, which have been recognized by the EU authorities. The 3 self-regulating FEDIAF Codes are

• the “Guide to good practice for the manufacture of safe pet foods”,
• the “FEDIAF Code of good labelling practice for pet food”, and
• the “Nutrition guidelines for complete and complementary pet food for cats and dogs”.

Wherever possible, FEDIAF strongly encourages responsible dog and cat ownership.

References

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