The agriculture ministry of China has released a draft policy that could illegalize canine meat consumption.

Calling dogs a “special companion animal”, the China’s Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Affairs excluded cats and dogs in a draft that “white lists” animals allowed to be raised for meat such as pigs, ducks, and chickens.

The new draft policy follows Shenzhen’s move in becoming the first ever city in mainland China to announce a ban on consuming dog and cat meat.

The ban will likely be implemented in Shenzhen from the beginning of May.

“With the progress of human civilization and the public’s concern and preference for animal protection, dogs have changed from traditional domestic animals to companion animals,” said the ministry in a statement.

“Dogs are generally not regarded as livestock and poultry around the world. China should also not manage them as livestock and poultry.”

‘Game changer’

The Humane Society International (HSI) has been campaigning to end Asia’s dog meat trade for years. According to the charity, every year, around 10 million dogs are killed for their meat in China and believes the proposed draft policy could be a “game changer moment for animal welfare in China”.

In a statement, HSI’s director of international media, Wendy Higgins, said: “It is incredibly encouraging now to see a draft on the table in mainland China that could effectively ban the eating of dogs and cats,”

“Tens of millions of dogs and cats every year, mostly stolen pets, suffer the agonies of the brutal meat trade,” she continued.

“There is no greater desire to see it end than among Chinese animal groups and animal lovers themselves.”

Dog meat trade is already banned in place across Hong Kong, Thailand, the Philippines, Taiwan and Singapore.

‘Rebranding wildlife as livestock’

While the agriculture ministry cited concerns over animal welfare and prevention of disease transmission as factors behind the move, the updated list does include several wildlife species such as deer, game birds, minks, and two kinds of foxes, among others that will be allowed to be farmed under animal husbandry laws raising concerns from animal activists.

Peter Li, China Policy Specialist with HSI, told the Guardian: “Listing wild animals, including foxes and raccoon dogs, as ‘special livestock’ is concerning.

“Rebranding wildlife as livestock doesn’t alter the fact that there are insurmountable challenges to keeping these species in farm environments, their welfare needs simply can’t be met.

“In addition, there’s clear evidence that some of these species can act as intermediate hosts of viruses, such as Covid-19, which is why we’re urging China and all governments to stop trading in wildlife.”

The ongoing coronavirus pandemic was first transmitted to humans at a meat market in Wuhan, China. Animal rights activists have urged populations around the world to ditch meat to avoid a repeat of the pandemic.

The virus has killed more than 95758 at the time of writing.

• Read: China’s wet markets re-open despite ongoing coronavirus pandemic

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