New Regulations for Human Medicines for Dogs and Cats to Take Effect in July; Chiang Wan-an Calls for Postponement

Taipei City Mayor Chiang Wan-an today led bureau chiefs to the Taipei City Council for a policy report and interpellation. Kuomintang (KMT) councilor Yang Chih-tou stated that the new regulations for human medicines used in treating dogs, cats, and other pets have drawn significant attention. He, along with many pet owners, is concerned that when taking their pets to the vet for emergencies, they might face life-or-death situations because essential medicines and equipment from pharmaceutical companies have not completed registration. Yang Chih-tou said that while transparency and regulation might be good, before all available medicines are fully registered, he hopes the city government will urge the central government to postpone implementation and encourage pharmaceutical companies to actively apply. Chen Ying-hao, Director of the Taipei City Animal Protection Office, responded that personnel would be dispatched tomorrow to participate in a Ministry of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine Agency (APHIA) meeting to express the hope for a central government postponement of the new regulations. Chiang Wan-an also stated that the city government's stance is very clear: they will fully convey the concerns of pet owners and veterinarians to the central government, strongly urging a delay in implementation until comprehensive supporting measures are in place. The Ministry of Agriculture APHIA and the Ministry of Health and Welfare Food and Drug Administration (FDA) jointly issued the "Regulations on the Management of Human Medicines for Use in Dogs, Cats, and Non-Economic Animals" in 2024. These regulations allow pharmaceutical companies to apply for registration of human medicines as "animal protection medicines" when animal medicines are insufficient, or for veterinarians to issue prescriptions for purchase at pharmacies. The regulations are expected to take effect in July this year. According to APHIA data, only about 30% of the human medicines announced as available for use in dogs, cats, and non-economic animals have completed registration as animal protection medicines. This has caused concern among many pet owners and veterinarians, as most medicines cannot be legally stored in animal hospitals, potentially leading to inconvenience for acute treatment or night emergency medication. (Edited by Hsiao Po-wen)1150409