The Norwegian pet trade association...

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 reptile keeping, aquarium medicines, alien species, and animal welfare ‒ often preventing overly restrictive measures through engagement with government authorities. The organisation also holds the presidency of the European Pet Organization (EPO) and co-founded the Scandinavian Pet Trade Union (SPTU).

The anniversary is marked in the latest edition of PetScandinavia magazine (issue 1/2026), published by SPTU, which features a detailed account of NZB's history alongside coverage of store development, animal welfare, domestication, and Nordic product innovation. The issue is available free of charge digitally.

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