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Independent Certification Body
Founding Cohort · Public Registry
Founding Certified Breeders
Founding Certified Breeders are entities certified during the inaugural phase of the ElitePetz Certification Authority under the published Certification Standards Framework.
They are permanently identified in the public Registry as members of the founding cohort.
Founding designation recognizes participation during the Authority’s inaugural certification phase. It does not create different standards, additional privileges, or exemption from review or enforcement.
What “Founding” Status Means
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Received certification during the Authority’s inaugural certification phase.
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Adopted the Authority’s disclosure requirements at an early stage.
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Maintain certification subject to continuing review and public status reporting.
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Remain governed by the same published policies as subsequent certified entities.
Founding Certified Breeders are evaluated and governed under the same requirements as all other ElitePetz-certified entities.
Founding Certified Breeders:
Founding designation remains part of the historical record. The underlying certification remains subject to renewal, review, suspension, revocation, expiration, and other applicable status changes.
Certification Status Transparency
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Is maintained as an individual entry in the public ElitePetz Registry.
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Has a unique Certification ID in the format EP-CERT-YYYY-NNNN-XXX.
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Displays the current status recorded by the Authority.
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Remains subject to status changes in accordance with published Authority policies.
Every Founding Certified Breeder has an individual Registry record documenting current status, key dates, and other publicly available information.
Each founding cohort record:
Founding Cohort Registry
The inaugural cohort is limited to fifteen Founding Certified Breeder certifications. The figures below show positions issued, reserved, and remaining.
Founding Cohort Limit
Founding designation is limited to the first fifteen entities selected, certified, and activated within the Authority’s inaugural cohort.
Founding Cohort Limit
15 Founding Certifications
The Authority may close the founding cohort once all fifteen positions have been assigned. Unclaimed or withdrawn positions may be reassigned before final closure.
After the cohort closes, subsequent applicants may receive regular certification under the same Standards Framework but will not receive the Founding designation.
Founding Status and Continuing Accountability
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Certification remains subject to renewal and continuing compliance requirements.
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Status changes are recorded in the certification’s public history where applicable.
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Suspension, revocation, expiration, or reactivation does not remove the historical Founding designation.
Founding recognition does not protect a certification from subsequent review or status action.
All certifications are:
Founding recognition records early participation; it does not guarantee continuing certification.
Interested in Becoming Certified?
Breeders may enter the certification process through an application or direct invitation. Every candidate is evaluated against the published Certification Standards Framework.
Applications and certification decisions are governed by:
Founder's Statement
On the establishment of the ElitePetz Certification Authority
ElitePetz was established in response to a persistent problem in companion animal breeding: buyers, breeders, and other participants often lack access to consistent, independently maintained certification information.
The Founding Certified Breeders are the first entities to participate in the Authority’s certification system. Their records establish the beginning of a permanent, publicly accessible history of certification decisions and status changes.
The long-term goal is straightforward: maintain clear criteria, documented decisions, and reliable public records that allow each certification to be independently verified over time.
Pavel Legki
Founder · ElitePetz Certification Authority