Wellbeing & Wellness with Joy!
I attended the inaugural National Animal Wellbeing Summit 2025, convened by The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in Delhi. It was an informative and enlightening summit that brought together policymakers, veterinarians, startups, and industry leaders on a single platform.
Speakers focussed on the need for a single-window regulatory framework and eventually mandatory pet food standards, with BIS voluntary standards serving as a strong starting point. Th
ey also emphasized evidence-based nutrition, clearer labelling and claim transparency, consumer education, and greater veterinary involvement to improve real-world health outcomes for pets across India.
A recent Rödl & Partner paper highlighted India’s fast-growing pet ecosystem, estimating the pet population at 42 million in 2024, projected to surpass 100 million by 2035. The pet food market, currently valued at USD 720 million, could reach USD 2 billion by 2035. Dog food still dominates over 85% of the market, while cat food is the fastest-growing segment. Despite rising demand, manufactured pet food penetration remains below 10%, emphasizing the need for strong, science-backed regulations and clearer standards.
Salil Murthy (Mars Petcare India) said the shift in India’s families, where pets have moved from outdoor companions to emotionally significant household members. He stressed the urgent need for comprehensive regulations to ensure safety, quality ingredients, and proper labelling, highlighting BIS’s voluntary standards as a crucial step.
Pallavi Anand (Nestlé Purina) added that with most pet parents being first-timers, the industry carries greater responsibility. As families shift from home-cooked to formulated nutrition, she emphasized the importance of validated claims, transparency, and rigorous quality to build trust and protect pets.
Key takeaways from the event were –
- Creating a dedicated regulatory framework using BIS voluntary standards.
- Strengthening evidence-based nutrition, label transparency, and consumer education.
- Enhancing veterinary engagement and One Health alignment.
- Promoting multi-stakeholder collaboration to turn standards into real-world practice.
We all look forward to building a future-ready, responsible framework for India’s companion animal sector—ensuring better nutrition, stronger regulation, and improved well-being for pets nationwide. Join us on our Facebook and Instagram pages to celebrate our Precious Paws- today and every day!
Shweta
shwetadew02@gmail.com