About Us

What is the Healthy Trade Institue?

The HTI is a 501(c)(3) U.S. nonprofit organization that is empowering businesses to champion healthy trade practices that enhance the wellbeing of pets and wildlife.

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Our Vision
science that drives us
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Certification program
Future

Our Vision

We envision a future where businesses lead the way in promoting ethical & sustainable trade practices, fostering a harmonious balance between commerce and conservation where the wellbeing of pets and wildlife is prioritized; ensuring the health and prosperity of both pets and wildlife populations worldwide.

The science that drives us

U.S. pet businesses lose over $140 million in revenues each year due to disease.

Over 75% of pet owners are willing to pay at least 75% more for animals from certified disease-free businesses.

Certified disease-free businesses can increase profit margins over 25%.

Over 98% of businesses are interested in acquiring animals that are disease-free.

Healthy trade certification program

The HTI coordinates a healthy trade certification program developed by leading scientists and industry partners. The program helps ensure the sale and trade of animals that are not infected with selected pathogens that can negatively impact pets and wildlife.

What HTI provides:

  • Training to businesses
  • Assistance to help businesses incorporate healthy trade practices into animal care
  • Coordination of routine testing for diseases with validated diagnostic laboratories
  • Help with response in the event of a positive detection of a selected pathogen

FUTURE

The HTI was created in 2024 to organize and launch the healthy trade certification program. The program is launching with a focus on pet amphibians, but will be expanded to reptiles in 2025, and possible other taxa (e.g., tropical fish) thereafter.

This is currently a U.S.-focused program, but could by expanded to include other countries.

Businesses interested in these possible future expansions are encouraged to contact Dr. Gray.

History of the HTI

The HTI was born out of a partnership between the U.S. pet amphibian trade industry and university scientists. Motivation for its creation started after the U.S. government banned the importation of >200 species of salamanders because of the threat of a fungal pathogen, Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans. Pet Advocacy Network, Reptiles by Mack, and Josh’s Frogs approached Dr. Matt Gray about alternative solutions to trade bans.

With a seed grant from the University of Tennessee One Health Initiative, Dr. Gray organized research to investigate the interest of U.S. businesses and consumers in a healthy trade certification program. Five publications in 2023 authored by Dr. Gray’s team provided overwhelming evidence of business support of additional efforts to ensure a disease-free trade and U.S. consumers’ preference to purchase, even at a higher price, amphibians that are certified as pathogen free.

Using this scientific evidence as motivation, Dr. Gray organized scientific experts and business partners in 2023 to develop a first-of-its-kind industry-led healthy trade certification program that integrates best-known science and industry perspectives to limit pathogens in trade.

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