The International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) and the European Health and Fitness Association (EHFA) have reached an agreement over each association's role in Europe.

Harm Tegelaars, president of EHFA and Joe Moore, president of IHRSA, approved a common way forward for the two industry bodies and the way they conduct their operations in the European health and fitness sector - an industry that generates €20bn (£17bn, US$28bn) in revenue each year.

As part of the agreement, EHFA will acknowledge IHRSA as the global federation which acts as an umbrella to EHFA - and all national federations - while IHRSA acknowledges EHFA as the primary representative body of the European health and fitness industry to the institutions of European governance, including the European Union (EU).

EHFA will also cooperate with IHRSA to actively influence public policy discussions at global organisations, such as the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

The agreement also dictates that EHFA will allow IHRSA will to continue to provide support and advice on best practices to IHRSA's national strategic partners, member federations and other members on all aspects of the health club business, while IHRSA will support the concept of EHFA's development of a European Register of Exercise Professionals (EREPS).

Significantly, a clause allows each organisation to hold different positions on individual issues and for the associations to act in the best interests of its stakeholders.

In a joint statement, the two associations said: "The health and fitness industry can and should play a pivotal role in improving the health of all Europeans.

"In order for the industry to take its rightful place in the healthcare sector, we must engage governments, the media and the healthcare community at all levels - local, national, EU, and global. This is no small task and will require commitment, effort and action from all stakeholders in the industry to make this happen."