About us
EHFA is an independent and non-for-profit organisation based in Brussels representing the interests of the sector at EU level.
EHFA was created in 2001 from a revamp of the highly successful European Network of Fitness Associations, formed in 1996. Since 2007, under the chairmanship of Harm Tegelaars, EHFA has strengthened its support from major stakeholders involved in the health and fitness sector in Europe, and in January 2008 secured EU funding to further develop its activities.
Through its accreditation programme for EHFA training providers and its European Register of Exercise Professionals (EREPS), EHFA’s main goals are to raise standards within the European health and fitness industry and to promote best practice in instruction and training in order to help meet the challenge of rising levels of inactivity and obesity currently facing Europe.
EHFA also gathers and disseminates relevant information to its members, and aims not only to fully document the European fitness industry but also to drive the need for further research in this field. EHFA is also a networking platform and is open to anyone who is passionate about exercise, be they individuals, major companies or federations.
EHFA represents an industry that generates revenue of more than 20 billion Euro annually, provides employment to 370,000 people and has more than 40 million affiliates across Europe in members in public and private health & fitness clubs.