The Norwegian pet trade association turns 70

Norway's leading pet trade association, NZB (Norsk Zoologisk Bransjeforening), is celebrating its 70^th anniversary in 2026, a milestone which has prompted a reassessment of the organisation's history. To their own surprise, a review of archive material revealed that NZB was founded in 1956, a full two decades earlier than previously believed, as the association’s secretary general Svein A. Fossa reports in a media statement.

Established originally as the Norwegian Aquarium and Bird Traders' Trade Association, it was created to help members secure foreign currency for importing birds and aquarium supplies during the tightly regulated post-war economy. After a period of dormancy, it was revitalised in 1976 as regulatory pressure on the pet sector intensified, and has since grown into one of Europe's most active industry bodies.

Over seven decades, NZB has shaped Norwegian legislation on…