Watch this page for updates on what has happened at the CITES Conference of the Parties meeting 20 being held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan between 24 November and 5 December 2025.

Our Chief Executive Dr Matthew Bond attended on behalf of the European Pet Organization, of which OATA is a member, and he joined forces with other global pet trade representatives to make interventions on a number of species and issues that affect the pet industry.

Below are video updates he’s given throughout his time there – latest video is first.

Our Chief Executive Dr Matt Bond makes an intervention on behalf of the European Pet Organization regarding the impractiability of using coded-microchip implants for marking live animals in trade. Small bodied animals – such as fish – are just not suitable for microchipping and this should be reflected in any resolution.

Our Chief Executive Dr Matt Bond sits down with fellow pet trade and keeper representative Art Parola to discuss what’s been happening on Day 6 of the CITES Conference of the Parties in Uzbekistan. They cover topics as wide ranging as positive lists and how to deal with endemic species, including captive breeding of species in non-range states.

A round up on the first week of CITES from our Chief Executive Matthew Bond. 

Day 4 at CITES was a busy one for the ornamental aquatics industry. Stony coral & marine fishes came up for discussion. Here’s a quick reflection from our Chief Executive Dr Matthew Bond & Ornamental Fish International, European Pet Organization & Norwegian Pet Trade boss Svein Fossa on what happened.

Dr Matthew Bond made a second representation to the committee, on behalf of the European Pet Organization, – this time on the proposals around marine ornamental fishes. A big one for our industry. Watch the video above for some explanation.

Here’s the intervention from our Chief Executive Dr Matthew Bond (representing the European Pet Organization) and AZA that made some difference to what was agreed at CITES on stony corals. This is why it’s so important to go to these meetings and talk on behalf of the industry.

Dr Matt Bond outlines three priorities for the ornamental aquatics industry ahead of his trip to Uzbekistan.