Welcome to the GAPFA Newsletter!

This newsletter provides an overview of key developments and priorities across our Alliance. Representing over 90% of global prepared pet food production, GAPFA works to improve the health and wellbeing of pets worldwide through safe, nutritious, and sustainable pet food. Visit www.gapfa.org for more info.

GAPFA Strengthens Engagement with WOAH on Animal Health and Pet Nutrition

The Global Alliance of Pet Food Associations (GAPFA) met with Dr. Emmanuelle Soubeyran, Director-General of the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) in Paris to discuss the critical role of complete and balanced pet nutrition in supporting animal health and welfare.

“The meeting with Dr. Soubeyran and her Team was an important step in strengthening dialogue on the role of pet nutrition in animal health and welfare,” said Loretta Hunter, President of GAPFA. “Science-based, complete and balanced pet nutrition is a fundamental tool to support companion animal health. We look forward to working with WOAH to ensure nutrition is recognized as part of the broader One Health conversations.”

GAPFA looks forward to continuing constructive engagement with WOAH, including at the WOAH Annual General Session and Animal Health Forum in May 2026.

GAPFA and WOAH have cooperated under a Memorandum of Understanding since 2017. GAPFA continues to engage closely with the Terrestrial Animal Health Standards Commission (TAHSC) to support the assessment and recognition of processed pet food as a safe commodity under the WOAH Terrestrial Code, supporting the safe trade of pet food among countries around the world. 

GAPFA Welcomes 3 New Affiliate Members
and Strengthens Global Collaboration

GAPFA is delighted to welcome 3 new Affiliate Members to the GAPFA Family!

• Kerry - a global leader in taste and nutrition, providing the pet food industry with an extensive portfolio of ingredients.
• BHJ -  a global supplier of animal proteins for the international food and pet food industries. 
• agro Food Solution GmbH - produces functional apple fibers, apple pectins, and apple extracts for pet and livestock products.

"Welcoming these new Members further strengthens the expertise within GAPFA’s global community. Their knowledge and innovation will support our collective efforts to advance GAPFA’s vision to improve the health and wellbeing of pets globally through access to safe, nutritious and sustainable pet food” - Loretta Hunter, GAPFA President. 

The introduction of the Affiliate Membership category marks an exciting milestone in GAPFA’s ongoing development, supporting greater collaboration across the sector.

Organizations interested in applying for Affiliate Membership are welcome to contact the GAPFA Secretariat.

Registration now open for GAPFA Technical Congress
in Ottawa on 21-24 June 2026

GAPFA is pleased to announce that registration is now open for the GAPFA Technical Congress 2026 - Ottawa, Canada, from 21–24 June 2026.

Hosted by the Pet Food Association of Canada (PFAC), the GAPFA Congress will bring together the global pet food community for four days of technical exchange, strategic discussion, and international collaboration in Canada’s capital.

The Technical Congress on 23 June 2026 features an excellent speaker line-up and a comprehensive programme covering global pet food issues.

Members and interested stakeholders are encouraged to register as soon as possible to secure a place ...

Updates from around the world: European Union (EU)
"EU Sets Historic Standards for Dog and Cat Welfare"

EU lawmakers have approved the first-ever legislation establishing harmonized welfare standards for dogs and cats across all member states. The new rules aim to improve animal care throughout breeding, sale, and adoption, while tackling illegal pet trade and promoting responsible ownership.

Key measures include consistent requirements for housing and care, mandatory training for caretakers, and stricter rules for commercial imports to ensure non-EU operators meet equivalent welfare standards.

The legislation also introduces mandatory microchipping and interoperable registration systems to strengthen traceability, alongside tools to verify the legitimacy of online pet sales. Formal adoption is expected later in 2026, with implementation two years later.

GAPFA Regional Spotlight - Brazil
"Brazil consolidates position among the world’s
largest pet food markets"

Brazil currently holds a prominent position in the global pet food industry. As the second largest market worldwide, the country produces around 4 million tons of complete pet food annually, with the potential to double that volume. Brazil also leads pet product exports in Latin America, reaching close to US$ 600 million, of which approximately 80% corresponds to pet food.

With the third largest pet population in the world, behind only the United States and China, Brazil ranks third globally in industry revenue, representing more than 5% of the international market. These indicators underscore the sector’s economic relevance and its capacity to consistently meet domestic demand.

The Brazilian market operates in alignment with international best practices in quality, traceability, and animal welfare, further reinforcing its position as a strategic hub for both domestic supply and regional and global markets. For more information contact Cinthia Lenz | ABEMPET or visit https://abempet.org.br. 

GAPFA Workstreams Advance Technical Priorities and Global Collaboration

GAPFA continues to strengthen its technical work across the three Workstreams (WS): Food Safety & Trade Facilitation (FSTF), Nutrition, and Communications. Made up of experts from across the world, the WS are advancing key priorities under the GAPFA Strategic Plan, with active subgroups now driving deliverables for 2026.

Recent discussions highlighted continued efforts to support science-based approaches, global alignment of standards, and increased engagement with international stakeholders.

• Food Safety & Trade Facilitation (FSTF): Focused on strengthening safe, science-based international trade, addressing non-tariff barriers, and supporting the recognition of pet food as a safe commodity.
• Nutrition: Continues to promote globally recognized standards such as AAFCO and FEDIAF, while providing technical guidance and training to support harmonization and capacity building.
• Communications: Enhancing outreach by amplifying GAPFA’s technical work, promoting responsible pet ownership, and supporting greater visibility and knowledge-sharing.

All GAPFA members are invited to participate in the face-to-face workstream meetings in Ottawa on 22 June 2026 alongside the GAPFA Congress 2026.

Together, these Workstreams reinforce GAPFA’s role as the global voice of the pet food sector and advance progress toward safe, nutritious, and sustainable pet food worldwide. GAPFA Members interested in joining a Workstream are warmly invited to contact the GAPFA Secretariat.

'Did you know?' GAPFA Fun Facts

Super Noses & Snack Detectives: How Pets Smell the World 🐾

• Dogs are the ultimate sniffing champions, with up to 300 million scent receptors (vs. our modest 5 million). Cats have an impressive sense of smell too, but dogs clearly take the gold medal. 🥇
• A dog’s nose isn’t just powerful, it’s smart. It can separate and track different smells at the same time, turning every walk into a full-on detective mission.
• Both cats and dogs have a “secret” scent system - the Vomeronasal (Jacobson's) organ to detect pheromones, basically giving them access to a whole hidden layer of information we humans completely miss.

Quick Links

For further information on GAPFA visit us at gapfa.org or on LinkedIn. Sign up for this Newsletter here.