Councilors Criticize New Pet Grooming Regulations Amidst Controversy; Taipei City Government Says It Will Continue Guidance and Assessment
Taipei City Councilor Chang Chih-hao criticized the Ministry of Agriculture's new standardized pet grooming contracts for insufficient support, causing businesses to fear penalties without proper notification. The Taipei Animal Protection Office stated it would continue guidance and assessments and reflect feedback to the central government. Consumer protection officials also highlighted common disputes related to pet grooming fees and pre-paid services.
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- 📰 Published: April 20, 2026 at 20:58
- 🔍 Collected: April 20, 2026 at 21:32 (33 min after Published)
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Central News Agency (CNA) - Taipei, April 20, 2026 - Taipei City Councilor Chang Chih-hao of the Taiwan People's Party stated today that the standardized pet grooming contracts promoted by the Ministry of Agriculture lack sufficient supporting measures, with some businesses reporting concerns about potential penalties due to not receiving notification. The Taipei Animal Protection Office stated that it will continue to provide guidance, conduct assessments for any omissions, and compile difficulties and issues to be reported to the central government.
During the Taipei City Council's Finance and Construction Committee questioning and responses this afternoon, Chang Chih-hao questioned that the standardized pet grooming contracts from the Ministry of Agriculture have significant discrepancies in both system design and execution, causing panic among businesses and potentially leading compliant businesses to be heavily fined without their knowledge.
Chang Chih-hao pointed out that the Ministry of Agriculture requires businesses to print contract content as large posters and display them in their stores. However, pet grooming stores generally have limited space, making this regulation inappropriate and creating differential treatment for specific industries.
Chang Chih-hao mentioned that many "pure grooming" (offering only bathing and grooming services) stores in Taipei have reported never receiving any policy notifications, while only businesses involved in breeding and sales have received messages. This means the former could be inspected at any time. He criticized the competent authority for failing to notify properly, calling it an administrative oversight. Furthermore, a first-time violation discovered and not rectified within the deadline could result in a fine of up to NT$300,000, which would have a significant impact on small grooming businesses.
Chang Chih-hao requested that for regulations such as bank performance guarantees and poster display requirements that are fundamentally difficult to implement, the Taipei City Government should temporarily suspend inspections and penalties until supporting measures are in place. Simultaneously, the issues of difficulty in implementing the trust system, unreasonable poster regulations, and unequal contract rights should be formally submitted in writing to the central government, requesting a temporary suspension and revision of implementation. The Animal Protection Office should proactively engage with businesses to ensure they are all informed.
Taipei Animal Protection Office Director Chen Ying-hao responded that the requirement for posting posters is partly limited by the Consumer Protection Act, which mandates that standardized contracts must be clearly communicated to consumers. Additionally, in the future, all registered pet businesses will be re-assessed to ensure they receive notifications, avoiding any omissions, and feedback from frontline businesses regarding difficulties in implementing contracts will be compiled for the central government's reference.
Given the frequent disputes in pet medical and grooming services in recent years, Taipei City Senior Consumer Protection Officer Yeh Chia-hao told reporters this afternoon that statistics show there have been a total of 73 pet medical dispute cases in Taipei over the past five years, with the number of cases remaining relatively stable at around a dozen annually. Additionally, there have been 18 pet grooming disputes.
Yeh Chia-hao believes that pet medical disputes are mostly due to a gap in understanding between "medical procedures and outcomes." Common scenarios include pet owners being dissatisfied with the veterinarian's treatment, complications arising after major surgeries like sterilization, adverse drug reactions, and lack of clear upfront quotes.
Regarding pet grooming disputes, Yeh Chia-hao stated that the most common issue is "fees (pre-paid transactions and top-ups)." This often occurs when businesses promote "monthly packages," "card packages," or "large top-up plans." When consumers want to terminate the contract and get a refund due to difficulty in booking appointments or declining service quality, businesses often refuse refunds or claim that used services must be deducted at the "original non-discounted price," or even in cases of business closure. Furthermore, accidental cuts or falls during grooming are also common dispute types.
Yeh Chia-hao reminded the public that when encountering disputes, they can first file a complaint with the Consumer Service Center. If the business is unwilling to compromise, they can apply for a second complaint or consumer dispute mediation, where consumer protection officers or mediation committee members will intervene to negotiate. He also urged pet owners to choose reputable establishments when seeking pet hospitals or grooming services and to try to avoid purchasing pre-paid or top-up products. Whether for medical treatment or grooming, it is essential to confirm all fee standards in advance.
Yeh Chia-hao added that if unfortunate accidents like pet injuries occur, it is crucial to take photos as evidence immediately and retain all receipts and conversation records to ensure better protection in subsequent complaints. (Edited by Chang Ya-ching) 1150420
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During the Taipei City Council's Finance and Construction Committee questioning and responses this afternoon, Chang Chih-hao questioned that the standardized pet grooming contracts from the Ministry of Agriculture have significant discrepancies in both system design and execution, causing panic among businesses and potentially leading compliant businesses to be heavily fined without their knowledge.
Chang Chih-hao pointed out that the Ministry of Agriculture requires businesses to print contract content as large posters and display them in their stores. However, pet grooming stores generally have limited space, making this regulation inappropriate and creating differential treatment for specific industries.
Chang Chih-hao mentioned that many "pure grooming" (offering only bathing and grooming services) stores in Taipei have reported never receiving any policy notifications, while only businesses involved in breeding and sales have received messages. This means the former could be inspected at any time. He criticized the competent authority for failing to notify properly, calling it an administrative oversight. Furthermore, a first-time violation discovered and not rectified within the deadline could result in a fine of up to NT$300,000, which would have a significant impact on small grooming businesses.
Chang Chih-hao requested that for regulations such as bank performance guarantees and poster display requirements that are fundamentally difficult to implement, the Taipei City Government should temporarily suspend inspections and penalties until supporting measures are in place. Simultaneously, the issues of difficulty in implementing the trust system, unreasonable poster regulations, and unequal contract rights should be formally submitted in writing to the central government, requesting a temporary suspension and revision of implementation. The Animal Protection Office should proactively engage with businesses to ensure they are all informed.
Taipei Animal Protection Office Director Chen Ying-hao responded that the requirement for posting posters is partly limited by the Consumer Protection Act, which mandates that standardized contracts must be clearly communicated to consumers. Additionally, in the future, all registered pet businesses will be re-assessed to ensure they receive notifications, avoiding any omissions, and feedback from frontline businesses regarding difficulties in implementing contracts will be compiled for the central government's reference.
Given the frequent disputes in pet medical and grooming services in recent years, Taipei City Senior Consumer Protection Officer Yeh Chia-hao told reporters this afternoon that statistics show there have been a total of 73 pet medical dispute cases in Taipei over the past five years, with the number of cases remaining relatively stable at around a dozen annually. Additionally, there have been 18 pet grooming disputes.
Yeh Chia-hao believes that pet medical disputes are mostly due to a gap in understanding between "medical procedures and outcomes." Common scenarios include pet owners being dissatisfied with the veterinarian's treatment, complications arising after major surgeries like sterilization, adverse drug reactions, and lack of clear upfront quotes.
Regarding pet grooming disputes, Yeh Chia-hao stated that the most common issue is "fees (pre-paid transactions and top-ups)." This often occurs when businesses promote "monthly packages," "card packages," or "large top-up plans." When consumers want to terminate the contract and get a refund due to difficulty in booking appointments or declining service quality, businesses often refuse refunds or claim that used services must be deducted at the "original non-discounted price," or even in cases of business closure. Furthermore, accidental cuts or falls during grooming are also common dispute types.
Yeh Chia-hao reminded the public that when encountering disputes, they can first file a complaint with the Consumer Service Center. If the business is unwilling to compromise, they can apply for a second complaint or consumer dispute mediation, where consumer protection officers or mediation committee members will intervene to negotiate. He also urged pet owners to choose reputable establishments when seeking pet hospitals or grooming services and to try to avoid purchasing pre-paid or top-up products. Whether for medical treatment or grooming, it is essential to confirm all fee standards in advance.
Yeh Chia-hao added that if unfortunate accidents like pet injuries occur, it is crucial to take photos as evidence immediately and retain all receipts and conversation records to ensure better protection in subsequent complaints. (Edited by Chang Ya-ching) 1150420
Stand with the facts. Your every sponsorship is a force that guards press freedom.
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The text, images, and audio-visual content on this website may not be reproduced, broadcast, transmitted, or used without authorization.