The pet sector is under tension: after Russia has started maintenance work at Nord Stream 1 on 11 July, pet food manufacturers are now waiting if Russia will restart gas supply.

Since 2011 the pipeline Nord Stream 1, running under the Baltic, transports natural gas from Russia to Greifswald in eastern German. The gas is then distributed across Germany.

Pursuant to the Federal Grid Agency, Nord Stream 1 is usually serviced every year for 10 days, but regarding the current war in Ukraine this might not be a maintenance as usual. Russia might have plans to stop supplying gas to Europe

A supply stop would severely affect the pet supply sector in Germany. CEO of the Industrial Associaton of Pet Care Producers, Katrin Langner has already brought this issue up bay in May. Since the provision of food for pets in Germany is in severe danger, pet industry players asked for help in an open letter to the the Federal Grid Agency and the ministries concerned.

CEO of the Fressnapf Group Dr Johannes Steegmann has emphasized this problem in an interview with the Lebensmittelzeitung. He calls on politicians to classify pet sector as main category and to secure the production.

„When it comes to the power supply, the majority of manufacturers in the pet sector are reliant on gas. A switch to oil might be possible in individual instances, but this would take time and money. According to Langner, it would not be possible to make savings here due to statutory regulations. These dictate that “pet food must always be heated to high temperatures, and so there is no room for economies,” she said, explaining the special situation of the pet sector.

Build EurAsian partnerships ❤️ on people and then on businesses. 💵

Advertisement