On June 22 and 23, FEDIAF EuropeanPetFood successfully held its first in-person Congress and Extraordinary General Assembly (EGA) after two years of the pandemic. In addition to unveiling the FEDIAF Annual Report and the new FEDIAF video explainer and website, high-level speakers on core areas of focus, such as sustainability and the future of pet ownership, were welcomed at the event.
The Congress and EGA took place in Brussels at the Steigenberger Wiltcher’s Hotel with over 130 attendees from several European countries. This two-day event included both internal meetings for FEDIAF’s members as well as a Congress, opened to the wider public including FEDIAF’s stakeholders in Brussels. Furthermore, after two years of virtual meetings, members could finally celebrate together the 50th year anniversary of the association.
At the FEDIAF Congress, FEDIAF President, Annet Palamba, welcomed participants and the new association’s video explainer and public website were first unveiled by FEDIAF Secretary- General, Raquel Izquierdo de Santiago. The event also included presentations from external high-level speakers on core areas of focus. First, Joeri Van der Bergh from InSites Consulting presented a research study on “The Future of Pet Ownership” to highlight how millennials are overtaking the ageing baby boomers as the biggest pet-owning generation. Then, experts from the European Commission, Alberto D’Avino, the NGO Transport & Environment, Laura Buffet, and from the pet food industry, Christophe Carlier, FEDIAF vice-president, spoke to participants about the future availability of raw materials.
The topic of sustainability was also brought up at the CEO Forum meeting on the “Aspirational path towards sustainable food systems--the pet food industry contribution”. Here, the discussion was first introduced by high-level speakers from the European Commission, Isabelle Rollier; followed by FoodDrinkEurope, Laura Degallaix; and IPIFF, Christophe Derrien.
At the EGA, FEDIAF members approved new statutes for the association, and elected new officials for the board of directors and executive committee. This marked the end of FEDIAF’s Presidency for Annet Palamba, who remains the association treasurer and member of the board. Newly elected President Rosa Carbonell stated: “I would like to congratulate Annet for all her achievements as she leaves FEDIAF on a strong footing for the future. In the coming period we are aware that we will have turbulences as we are facing a new challenging global context. I wish to collaborate with all members and renew the promise of a constant positive evolution of our trade association in the coming years.”
Lastly at the EGA, Marta Ponghellini, deputy head of Unit Animal Nutrition-Veterinary Medicines of DG SANTE, European Commission, addressed FEDIAF members with the latest legal developments affecting the pet food industry.
To read more about FEDIAF, please visit our website europeanpetfood.org.
