Paris, France – The Global Alliance of Pet Food Associations (GAPFA) met with Dr. Emmanuelle Soubeyran, Director-General of the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) together with partners from the International Feed Industry Federation (IFIF) in Paris on 25 February to engage on the role of complete and balanced pet nutrition in supporting animal health and welfare.

During the meeting, participants highlighted the role of complete and balanced nutrition as a preventive pillar of companion animal health. Science-based nutritional standards help ensure that dogs and cats receive the essential nutrients they need throughout their lives, supporting health, resilience, and responsible pet ownership.

“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 reaffirmed its commitment to continued scientific cooperation and emphasized that balanced pet nutrition is fundamental to companion animal health. GAPFA also raised awareness of globally recognized, science-based nutritional standards for pets, such as those developed by AAFCO and FEDIAF, as part of preventive companion animal health.

GAPFA also highlighted its role in supporting capacity-building and training on pet food nutrition guidelines and standards, delivered at the request of authorities and industry associations worldwide.

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.

About GAPFA

The Global Alliance of Pet Food Associations (GAPFA) is a non-profit organization established in Belgium in 2014, representing pet food manufacturers globally. GAPFA’s vision is to improve the health and wellbeing of pets globally through access to safe, nutritious and sustainable pet food. The Alliance works to promote adherence to food safety and nutritional standards enabling manufacturers to deliver wholesome, healthy and nutritious prepared pet foods; to promote the feeding of prepared pet food to support the health and wellbeing of pets; and to develop and disseminate educational resources which highlight and enhance the benefits of human pet interaction. For further information, please visit www.gapfa.org.