Taiwan Becomes The First Asian Country To Ban Dog And Cat Meat Consumption

The Taiwanese legislature passed a bill that forbids the consumption of cat and dog meat, according to Yahoo News.

The Animal Protection Act states that offenders will be fined NTD$50,000 to $2 million (USD $1,635 to about $65,430) if found guilty. While some local governments had already barred the use of cat or dog meat for food, this brings the issue to a national level. The act was also passed along with two other bills that encourage the safety of pets in Taiwan.

As for other Asian countries, Hong Kong outlaws the slaughter and sale of felines and canines, though stops short of banning consumption, while China has only banned the sale.

Taiwan has often been called Asia's most progressive country. This ban will sway that argument further.