Trade experts believe the market could increase another 80 percent, considering the trend toward buying more pet food for existing pets and the expected gradual increase in the number of pets. Its 13 factories produced 93,000 tons, and domestic sales reached 77,000 tons in 1996. The increased competition dropped the price of pet foods 10 to 15 percent below 1994's rates. Those lower prices are expected to continue through 1998. Most pet food is sold in supermarket chains, drug stores and gas-station shops that are supplied directly by large domestic producers.
Distributors usually supply the pet shops, veterinarians and breeders.
Imports are rising, reaching 28,000 tons in 1996, a 24-percent increase over 1995. Import Regs Follow EU Standards Pet food imports are governed by the Austrian feed law number 905 of 1993, feed ordinance number 273 of 1994 and feed ordinance number 183 of 1996. Legal requirements conform with EU standards. Since pet foods contain animal products, all imports must be accompanied by a veterinary certificate that guarantees the contents meet the sanitary standards of the importing country. The author is an agricultural specialist with FAS' Office of Agricultural Affairs in Vienna, Austria.