The future looks bright for the native reptile industry

Peter Nobbs leads an open discussion between keepers, breeders

 and would-be dealers of native reptiles in NSW

A meeting was held in early February, facilitated by supplier Pet Pacific Pty Ltd, to open up a discussion between hobbyists and retailers about future commercial trading of captive reptiles/amphibians in NSW, and the response was overwhelmingly positive. 47 people came from three herpetological societies and several shops, and included six senior Pet Pacific staff, the principal of The Parramatta College and one staff member from Kongs Australia. Some even flew from interstate including Tim Mensforth from URS Wholesale in Adelaide, such was the level of support.

The meeting was an unscripted open discussion to swap notes between keepers, breeders and would-be dealers of captive-bred native reptiles in NSW. According to Peter Nobbs, Pet Pacific P/L Special Projects Manager and PIAA Representative to the Native Animal Keeper’s Consultative Committee (NAKCC), a lot of air was cleared and an overwhelming amount of support was identified.

The reptile industry and PIAA has, for more than a decade, been lobbying numerous public servants, Ministers and their advisors to lift the ban on commercial trade in captive reptiles, imposed by the NSW Minister for the Environment Hon. Pam Alann in 1997 following the freeing-up of licensing for private reptile ownership in NSW.

“We as an industry must reassure the animal welfare and conservation focussed groups and their representatives that their apprehension is not warranted and that we can do a really good job,” said Mr Nobbs. “It is recognised that captive breeding and community possession of some native species has great conservation benefits and when licenses are issued we have the right people doing the right thing.”

Since the meeting, it has been announced that Phil Koperberg, Minister for Climate Change, Environment and Water, has given the Department of Environment and Climate Change (DECC) his in principle approval of the development of a new commercial reptile traders license as part of the new Government Licensing System (GLS) that will include on-line license application.

“This is the start of the development of a commercial license and I will give feedback… as the issue unfolds. I ask that all commercially interested parties have patience as there are many complex issues for the DECC to overcome in the next few months,” Mr Nobbs said.

“After ten years of fighting for the right to trade in NSW, we are now in a tunnel with a light at the end of it and I am more than delighted,” he said.

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Feeling the strain – U.S. consumers cut back on spending

 

Things don’t appear to be looking too swell for pet retailers in the U.S., as more and more Americans are choosing to keep their money in their wallets during economic uncertainty.

 

A drop in home prices, increased energy costs and job cuts are taking their toll on consumers, and although pet owners still love their companions, pet retailers and veterinary service companies have started to notice that some consumers are attempting to cut corners.

 

“The economy is definitely having an impact,” said Morningstar analyst John Owens, who covers Pheonix-based PetSmart Inc. “Declining home values and rising gas prices are putting a squeeze on consumer spending.”

 

According to Owens, consumer spending is increasingly going to PetSmart’s competitors such as Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and Target Corp., which sell pet food and other items including collars and leashes.

 

The animal health care sector has also shown signs of weakness. Morningstar analyst Debbie Wang believes that as the economy continues to slump, pet owners may postpone treatments to cut back on their expenses.

 

“If it’s not absolutely necessary, I suspect people are going to either postpone it or not do it at all. But if the need is acute, it will happen, and people will pony up the money,” she said.

 

Still, it’s not all bad news. The market for pet care and pet supplies is still phenomenally large in the country. According to the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association (APPMA), around 63 percent of American households own a pet, and estimated spending on pets for 2007 was at $40.8 billion, up nearly 6 percent from the previous year.

 

President of the APPMA, Bob Vetere, believes that while ownership has leveled off slightly, spending on pets has been on the rise, as dogs and cats are now considered to be part of the family.

 

Wang supports this view, and she believes that in the long-term, empty-nesters and single people who dominate the industry will want to become pet owners.

 

“If economic conditions are good and people feel like they’re getting ahead, I would predict that folks will be happy to spend money on their pets,” she Wang.

 

Source: Betsy Vereckey, Associated Press Newswires, Feb 2008

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Pet food supplier firms face charges

Two Chinese businesses and a U.S. company were federally indicted last week in response to the spring 2007 pet food recalls.

Xuzhou Anying Biologic Technology development; Suzhou Textiles, Silk Light Industrial Products Arts and Crafts I/E; and ChemNutra were charged with indictments alleging that Suzhou Textiles mislabeled 800 metric tons of tainted wheat gluten manufactured by Xuzhou to avoid inspection in China.

The indictment states that Suzhou did not properly declare the contaminated product it shipped to the US as a material to be used in food, and it goes on to state that the shipment was falsely declared to the Chinese government in a way that would avoid mandatory inspection of the company’s plants. According to the indictment, Xuzhou added the melamine to artificially boost the protein content of the gluten to meet the requirements specified in Suzhou’s agreement with ChemNutra.

“The Millers deny the allegations by the Justice Department in the strongest of terms and look forward to the opportunity to prove their innocence at trial,” said ChemNutra spokesperson Steve Stern.

The Chinese government is cooperating with the investigation and shut down Xushou shortly after its connection to the tainted melamine was discovered, although there is no legal way to force China to hand over Linzhun or Chen.

Source: PetFood Industry, Feb 2008