By Jones Hsu, General Manager

In recent years, Taiwan’s pet food market has grown rapidly, with new products emerging one after another, giving pet owners more choices than ever.However, while the market is thriving, it has also exposed serious issues — especially around food safety and quality control.
As a manufacturer deeply involved in the pet supplement industry for many years, it pains me every time I hear of pets falling ill — or worse — due to unqualified or unsafe products.Such incidents not only erode consumer trust in the pet health industry, but also unfairly harm those of us who are genuinely committed to doing things right.

So the question we must ask is: how can we make Taiwan’s pet food market more regulated, transparent, and trustworthy?
I believe the answer lies in unity — by forming a Pet Food Industry Association, we can create a collective voice for the industry, strengthen competitiveness, and rebuild confidence among consumers.

1. Food Safety Challenges in Taiwan’s NT$60 Billion Pet Market

(1) Explosive Market Growth

By 2024, the number of domestic dogs and cats in Taiwan is expected to exceed 3 million, with the pet food market alone reaching NT$30 billion — roughly half of the entire pet industry.
Competition among brands is fierce, and products are increasingly diverse — from traditional dry and wet foods (like canned meals and cat purée sticks) to treats, and now the fastest-growing category of all: pet supplements (such as probiotics and joint support products).
These products aren’t only sold in pet shops and veterinary clinics but are now spreading quickly to consumers through e-commerce platforms.

However, behind this boom lies a serious challenge: food safety.
Not long ago, several news reports linked certain cat food brands to hypokalemia cases in cats, with some tragic deaths.
The incident drew widespread public attention and revealed the lack of robust regulatory oversight in Taiwan’s pet food sector.

(2) Current Regulations and Government Resource Limitations

Currently, pet food management in Taiwan falls under the Department of Animal Management within the Ministry of Agriculture.
However, the system faces major challenges.

For one, Taiwan still lacks a dedicated Pet Food Act — current oversight relies mainly on the Animal Protection Act and the Food Safety and Sanitation Act.
Yet these laws are designed more for human food and general animal welfare, not the specific risks of pet food manufacturing.Moreover, the Animal Management Department has only six staff members overseeing a vast range of responsibilities — from breeding and trade to food and supplies.
Due to limited manpower and resources, the government can only conduct around 100 random product inspections per year.
In a rapidly expanding market with complex safety concerns, this capacity is clearly insufficient.

(3) The Hidden “Black Number” in the Pet Food Industry

Another issue is the so-called “black number” — the unreported portion of the market.Under the current system, pet food products in Taiwan can be sold without pre-approval, provided the company voluntarily registers them afterward.In 2022, Taiwan had 3,286 registered pet food businesses, yet the total number of declared products was only 42,000 — averaging just 12 items per company.

This figure doesn’t align with reality.At Fuchong, for example, our team helps brand partners produce well over a hundred SKUs each year — which suggests there are many undeclared products circulating in the market.And that raises a crucial question: who ensures the safety and quality of these unregistered items?For consumers, these products represent invisible risks — like time bombs waiting to go off.

2. The Five Key Reasons for Establishing a Pet Food Industry Association

As members of this industry, we must think about how to make Taiwan’s pet food market more regulated, more transparent, and more trustworthy for consumers.
To achieve this, pet food manufacturers need to unite and promote the establishment of a “Pet Food Industry Association”, so that we can speak with one voice, strengthen competitiveness, and earn consumers’ confidence.

1. Promoting Regulatory Reform and Industry Self-Discipline

With Taiwan’s pet food market growing at an unprecedented pace, manufacturers are now petitioning to establish a Pet Food Industry Association to strengthen self-regulation and promote necessary legal reforms.
According to the Industrial Associations Act, Taiwan’s pet food industry is still not classified as an independent sector — it is currently grouped under general food or feed manufacturing.
This classification fails to reflect the unique characteristics and needs of our industry, leaving many specific challenges unresolved.

By separating “Pet Food Manufacturing” into its own official category, we can establish a clearer and more appropriate management framework that reflects the reality of our business and ensures more effective governance.

2. The Multiple Roles and Functions of the Association

A Pet Food Industry Association would serve multiple vital functions.
It could act as a bridge between the government, academia, and industry, helping policymakers develop regulations and standards that are both scientifically sound and practically applicable.

At the same time, the association could organize training programs, seminars, and workshops to help member companies enhance product quality, regulatory compliance, and management practices — gradually elevating the entire industry to international standards.

Furthermore, the association could establish a code of self-discipline, monitoring members’ conduct to prevent unethical practices that harm the industry’s reputation and to promote fair competition in the market.

One of the most successful international examples is the AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) in the United States.
AAFCO collaborates closely with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in developing industry regulations and standards, while also hosting professional conferences and educational programs to raise compliance and production standards across the industry.
This collaborative model not only enhances the efficiency of supervision but also fosters greater accountability and self-governance within the industry.

3. Strengthening Market Trust and Consumer Protection

Right now, Taiwan’s pet food industry is facing a crisis of consumer trust.
In recent years, repeated food safety incidents have occurred — some manufacturers, in an effort to cut costs, have used inferior ingredients or illegal additives, leading to serious health issues in pets.
This not only damages public confidence but also worries responsible supplement manufacturers who have worked hard to maintain quality and integrity.

By establishing an industry association, we can implement self-regulatory inspections, encouraging member companies to make their production processes and quality test reports transparent, so consumers can clearly understand the authentic quality and safety of each product.

4. Enhancing International Competitiveness

Taiwan’s pet food industry is gradually expanding into global markets.
However, due to incomplete regulations and a lack of unified standards, Taiwanese products are often perceived as inconsistent in quality — a perception that limits export growth.

If an industry association is established, it can spearhead regulatory classification, standard alignment, and legislative reform, bringing Taiwan in line with international standards.
This would greatly boost our export potential and global acceptance, allowing Taiwan-made pet foods to compete confidently on the world stage.

5. Fostering Industry–Government–Academia Collaboration and Innovation

The establishment of an industry association would also promote collaboration among industry, government, academia, and research institutions, driving technological innovation and new product development within the sector.

The association could help introduce the latest technologies and research findings, fostering continuous improvement in product innovation and manufacturing standards.
For example, through partnerships with universities and research institutes, we can advance studies in pet nutrition, food safety, and product development, elevating the entire industry’s technical capability.

Such cross-sector cooperation enables us to better anticipate market trends, enhance technological sophistication, and accelerate innovation across the industry.

3. Joining Forces for a Sustainable Future

Many companies have already joined the petition to establish the Pet Food Industry Association, showing strong support for uniting the industry under one voice.
Through this collective action, we can demonstrate our commitment to the government, encouraging it to accelerate the creation of relevant legislation and foster a fair, transparent, and competitive market environment.

We sincerely invite more industry peers to take part in this effort — to sign the petition and work together toward a healthier, more sustainable future for Taiwan’s pet food industry.

Joint Petition for the Establishment of the Pet Food Industry Association