Minister calls for consensus before imposing animal feeding banBy Yang Yuan-ting and Sam Garcia / Staff reporters, with staff writer and CNARegulations on feeding stray animals should not be written into law yet, as animal welfare groups have not reached a consensus on the matter, Minister of Agriculture Minister Chen Junne-jih (陳駿季) said today, after the Executive Yuan’s proposed amendment was criticized for omitting such regulations. The minister made the comments to reporters before the Legislative Yuan’s Economics Committee met to review proposed amendments to the Animal Protection Act (動物保護法). Animal protection groups and other relevant parties have different views on feeding animals, Chen said, adding that the amendment first addresses articles on which there is a high degree of consensus. While the Ministry of Agriculture has requested staff working on ecological programs to raise awareness about not feeding animals, it would be premature to write a feeding ban into law before a broader consensus is reached, he added. Managing stray animals relies heavily on volunteers, and if the law treats feeders as owners, the volunteers could be liable if a stray animal causes conflict, which could drive them away, the coalition said.

Source: Taipei Times January 28, 2026 04:58 UTC