On 7 May, the Standing Committee of the Guangzhou Municipal People’s Congress invited experts and deputies of the National People’s Congress to give their views and suggestions on issues related to pet market management.

The experts discussed the red line and bottom line of pet ownership, after-sales issues of pet sales, and the problem of expensive medical care for pets.

The Guangzhou Municipal Market Supervision Bureau introduced that at present, pet medical services are market-adjusted prices and are not included in the government’s guiding prices. The government should provide more guidance to make pet-related fees more reasonable.

How can the rights of pets and pet owners be protected by law? Some experts suggested that Guangzhou could take the lead in introducing local legislation on pet market management.

The Guangzhou Municipal Bureau of Justice said that they would study issues related to pet management with the relevant authorities in the industry, and if the conditions are suitable, he would consider including the Guangzhou Pet Management Ordinance in the legislative plan of the Municipal People’s Congress, so as to regulate pet management.

Editor’s Note: I am glad that the Standing Committee of the Guangzhou Municipal People’s Congress has seen the need and opportunity for legislation on pet management and has convened a forum to listen to public opinion. Considering that the regulation of pets should be based on the principles of both protection and management, we will write to the Standing Committee of the Guangzhou Municipal People’s Congress suggesting that the Guangzhou Pet Management Ordinance should be amended to become the Guangzhou Pet Protection and Management Ordinance, which should not only regulate the breeding, sale, medical treatment and registration of pets, but also pay attention to the rights and interests of pets themselves, such as suitable breeding conditions and breeding methods conducive to their physical and mental health. In addition, there should be provisions to protect them from abuse, abandonment, slaughter, sale and consumption.