Chinese pet industry united against 2019-nCoV
Asia Pet Alliance (APA) is running a nationwide campaign to bust myths and encourage pet media, industry associations, animal protection organizations and local authorities to communicate better about pet-related knowledge, do not believe and spread rumors.
How does APA support the pet industry to face the current crisis?
The Asia Pet Alliance (APA) gives us a higher responsibility towards the pet industry, beyond the organization of a trade fair like Pet Fair Asia. The virus outbreak has actually proven how essential the role of APA is for the industry.
Within ten days of the outbreak, APA has released an industry-wide proposal to protect pets, spread fact-checked information and started to support pet owners in multiple ways. The organization has produced short documentaries in Wuhan to report on the situation in the city and share it with the community.
We facilitate the circulation of information across the country and prevent false rumors to have negative consequences for pet owners. We help to set and promote safety standards and emergency procedures for professionals in our industry returning to work, and continuously support retailers and their customers with educational content regarding pet keeping during the epidemic.
Education wise, due to the impossibility to organize the China Pet Academy roadshow as planned in February, APA temporarily switched to a full-digital approach for its training session – giving access to free online content to its members.
Last but not least, APA continues to regulate the industry to avoid unscrupulous businesses to arbitrarily raise prices or charge higher services fees, ensure the sustainable and healthy development of the industry.
How do you see the chinese pet industry 6 months from now?
The Chinese pet market is growing at an incredible pace. The current situation has certainly slowed down everyone’s activities but we expect a surge in demand in the coming weeks, along with people resuming their regular life activities.
Professionals in our industry have been playing an exemplary role to help end-users better take care of their pets during this period. We are standing together, showing an incredible solidarity. David Zhonmg, EVP & Chairman of the APPA, as well as President & CEO of VNU Exhibitions Asia, believes the industry will get out stronger from this situation and continue to accelerate in 2020.
See also the interview with Mr. Hao Zhongli, founder of Yantai and president of the APA. (click here)