Sanming withdraws China’s first local companion-animal regulation draft

Date published: July 13, 2026

The Sanming Companion Animal Protection draft

On March 27, the Sanming Municipal Bureau of Justice of Fujian together with several other departments, released the Sanming Municipal Measures on the Protection and Management of Urban Companion Animals (Draft for Public Comment). Chinese media described it as the country’s first local legislative draft specifically focused on “companion animals.” Public consultation was originally scheduled to remain open until April 27.

The draft defined “companion animals” as dogs and cats ordinarily kept in family residences for non-economic purposes such as companionship and emotional comfort, distinguishing them from animals kept principally for production or other economic uses. It proposed rules covering much of the animals’ life cycle, including keeping, breeding, sale, medical treatment, death and disposal.

From an anti-animal cruelty perspective, the following proposals were especially significant: the draft prohibited the abuse and abandonment of companion animals and stated that violations would be handled under the Public Security Administration Punishments Law, with criminal liability imposed where conduct constituted a crime. Furthermore, adoption agreements should include a commitment not to abuse or abandon companion animals and clearly define the liability for breach of contract.

For stray-animal management, the draft assigned responsibility for capturing and sheltering stray dogs to urban-management authorities. For stray cats, it proposed a trap-neuter-vaccinate-return (TNVR) system, although return plans would require public notice and approval through a vote of property owners. It also encouraged rescue and adoption activities and proposed pet-friendly measures to be implemented in the city.

Reactions to the draft

The draft generated sharply divided reactions. Supporters regarded the legal recognition of cats and dogs as companion animals, the anti-abuse provisions and the proposed management of stray cats as valuable proposals that could be further improved. Opponents questioned whether the measures had a sufficient basis in superior national law, why cats and dogs should receive special legal treatment, and who would bear the financial and administrative costs.

Legal commentators regarded the superior-law issue as particularly serious. China’s Public Security Administration Punishments Law contains no corresponding offense or penalty for animal abuse as such. They therefore questioned the practical enforceability of the draft’s anti-abuse provision, especially in relation to evidence collection, identifying punishable conduct, and imposing penalties. They also questioned the feasibility of requiring property-owner approval before stray cats could be returned.

Withdrawal of the draft

On April 24, before the consultation period had ended, reporters found that the draft and its associated official websites had been removed. Several attempts to contact the Sanming Justice Bureau were unsuccessful. This was unexpected, because on April 17 and April 20 bureau staff had reportedly said that consultation remained open and that officials were collecting and studying public comments.

Sanming authorities had not publicly explained the removal by the time of the reports. It therefore remains unclear whether the draft was canceled, temporarily suspended or withdrawn for revision. The objections concerning superior-law authority and enforceability are plausible partial explanations for the withdrawal, but no source has so far established that these were the official reasons.

Sources

– 張喬 and 葛瑤, 大河報 / Dahe Daily, “全國首個『伴侶動物』立法草案悄然下線，目前徵求意見期尚未結束，草案首次將犬貓定義為『伴侶動物』，明確禁止虐待遺棄！” [China’s first “companion animal” legislative draft quietly taken offline before the public-comment period ended; the draft defined cats and dogs as companion animals and explicitly prohibited abuse and abandonment], April 25, 2026. Republished through Dahe Daily’s official QQ News account.

– 有料新語, 搜狐 / Sohu, “全國首個伴侶動物立法草案引爭議：被指缺乏上位法依據，徵求意見期間草案下架” [China’s first companion-animal legislative draft sparks controversy: criticized for lacking a basis in superior law and removed during the public-comment period], April 28, 2026. Compilation based on reporting by Dahe Daily, Red Star News, Southern Metropolis Daily, Yangtze Evening News, and other outlets.