FEDIAF elects Greg Van Praagh as new president

FEDIAF has chosen a new leader at a consequential moment for Europe’s pet food sector. At its General Assembly in Brussels on June 10, 2026, the federation elected Greg Van Praagh as president, replacing Rosa Carbonell, who had served in the role since 2022. The move comes as FEDIAF continues to position itself as a central industry voice on pet food regulation, nutrition, labeling, sustainability, and the broader role of pets in society. (europeanpetfood.org)

Van Praagh’s election also reflects continuity as much as change. He has been active in UK and European pet food policy for years, including as chair of the Pet Food Manufacturers’ Association, now UK Pet Food, and he joined the FEDIAF board in 2024. His commercial background is notable, too: he co-founded Benyfit Natural, an early raw pet food brand, which later became part of the Snellman family, and he also held senior roles at Real Pet Food Company. That mix of trade association, manufacturing, and regulatory experience likely made him a practical choice for a federation navigating both Brussels policymaking and fast-changing consumer demand. (europeanpetfood.org)

The board reshuffle went beyond the presidency. FEDIAF said Rosa Carbonell, of Nestlé Purina Petcare Europe, will remain involved as vice-president. Robin van den Bruinhorst, managing director of Dutch frozen pet food company Q-Petfood, was also elected vice-president. Christophe Carlier of Royal Canin, representing France’s FACCO, was confirmed as a board member, and Dr. Katrin Langner of Germany’s IVH joined the board as well. In its announcement, FEDIAF described the lineup as a blend of continuity and new perspectives. (europeanpetfood.org)

The timing matters because FEDIAF has been especially active over the past year. In its 2025/2026 annual reporting, the group highlighted work in regulatory affairs, nutrition, environmental sustainability, and labeling. It also published updated nutritional guidelines in 2025 and continues to maintain its Code of Good Labelling Practice, both of which are widely referenced across the European pet food sector. At the same time, FEDIAF has been publicly pressing EU policymakers on future-facing issues, including feed additives, novel ingredients, and access to Category 3 animal by-products within the bioeconomy framework. (europeanpetfood.org)

Van Praagh’s own statement pointed to that policy agenda. He said his focus will be on making sure the regulatory environment allows innovation to flourish while maintaining high standards of safety and nutrition. That message lines up with the themes FEDIAF has been emphasizing publicly, including trust, transparency, and the need for science-based policy. While independent expert reaction to the appointment appears limited so far, trade coverage has consistently framed him as a leader with deep regulatory engagement and significant industry credibility. (europeanpetfood.org)

Why it matters: For veterinarians and other animal health professionals, this isn’t just a trade association personnel update. FEDIAF represents national associations across 19 European countries plus major manufacturers, and says its work affects safe, nutritious, and palatable food for 306 million pets in Europe. Leadership at that level can shape how industry responds to questions that matter in practice: substantiation of nutritional claims, labeling clarity, ingredient authorization, sustainability tradeoffs, and standards around emerging categories such as raw and fresh-frozen diets. Even for clinicians outside Europe, FEDIAF policy positions can ripple into multinational brand strategy, product development, and the evidence base pet parents encounter. (europeanpetfood.org)

There’s also a market-scale reason to pay attention. FEDIAF’s 2026 facts and figures put the European pet food sector at €29.4 billion in annual sales, with 8.6 million tonnes of production and pet presence in 140 million households. In a market that large, trade association leadership can influence not only lobbying priorities, but also how quickly industry norms evolve around formulation, communication, and compliance. For veterinary teams advising pet parents, those shifts can affect everything from diet discussions to expectations around label language and category safety. (petworldwide.net)

What to watch: The next signals will be FEDIAF’s policy priorities under Van Praagh, especially on raw pet food, novel proteins and additives, sustainability rules, and any updates to nutritional or labeling guidance tied to EU regulatory debates over the coming year. (europeanpetfood.org)