Taiwan News
Date: 2015-07-18
By: Central News Agency

Taipei, July 18 (CNA) The Council of Agriculture (COA) said Saturday that suppliers of substandard pet foods will face fines soon if their products are found to be potentially harmful to pets, as the government tries to protect a growing number of cats and dogs raised by households in Taiwan.

Wang Chung-shu, deputy director of the COA’s department of the animal industry, said that the council had set standards to prevent pets from pathogenic microorganism and animal health hazards. The standards are scheduled to take effect at the end of July or in early August, he said.

Under Taiwan’s Animal Protection Act, the COA has been authorized to write the standards for allowable levels of pathogenic microorganism and animal health hazards for pets’ safety. Wang said that any pet foods suppliers who violate the standards could be fined NT$50,000 (US$1,597) to NT$250,000 based on the magnitude of the damage.     [FULL  STORY]