Animal abuse may be punished when it constitutes “picking quarrels and provoking trouble”

Date published: July 6, 2026

In December 2025, China’s NPC Constitution and Law Committee, in its report on deputies’ proposals adopted by the 14th NPC Standing Committee’s 19th meeting, gave an authoritative national-legislative response stating that animal-abuse conduct raised in a proposal, when it constitutes “picking quarrels and provoking trouble”, may be punished under the relevant provisions of the revised Public Security Administration Punishments Law.

This gives police and local authorities a clearer legal basis for action and may reduce inconsistent non-enforcement in certain animal abuse cases. However, the report is not an anti-animal cruelty law, and doesn’t imply that animal abuse in itself is a punishable or criminal offense. Nevertheless, the report of the committee is understood by some as an important signal, and it’s being interpreted in the context of progress towards stronger legal protection of animals.

Sources

Official / legal sources

– 全国人民代表大会宪法和法律委员会 / NPC Constitution and Law Committee, “全国人民代表大会宪法和法律委员会关于第十四届全国人民代表大会第三次会议主席团交付审议的代表提出的议案审议结果的报告” [Report of the NPC Constitution and Law Committee on the results of its review of deputies’ bills referred for deliberation by the Presidium of the Third Session of the 14th National People’s Congress], December 22, 2025; adopted by the 19th meeting of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People’s Congress on December 27, 2025; published in the Gazette of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, 2026, No. 1.

Commentary / advocacy sources

– 中国小动物保护协会 / China Small Animal Protection Association, “最高立法机关明确‘虐待动物行为适用《治安管理处罚法》’” [The highest legislative organ clarifies that “animal-abuse conduct may be subject to the Public Security Administration Punishments Law”], Sohu, March 28, 2026; reposting/commenting on Animal Law Net public-account material.