New Taipei inspects 141 pet foods, fines 20 for violations totaling NT$850,000

New Taipei City's Animal Protection and Disease Prevention Office is intensifying its scrutiny of pet food safety, inspecting 141 products and finding 20 instances of non-compliance. These violations range from inaccurate labeling and exaggerated advertising to discrepancies in nutritional content. The office highlighted a case where a "chicken jerky strip" was found to have only 0.76% crude fat, despite its packaging claiming "more than 1%."

Beyond labeling issues, a more serious concern involved a product testing positive for elevated arsenic levels. This item was promptly recalled and destroyed in March to prevent it from reaching consumers. Overall, the inspection revealed an 86% compliance rate, but the office is taking a firm stance against those that fall short.

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The city government continues to organize pet food inspections and sampling. This year, 141 product labels have been checked and 21 samples have been tested, with an overall pass rate of about 86%.

To date, 15 businesses have been fined a total of NT$850,000 for various infractions. The Animal Protection and Disease Prevention Office also conducts regular checks at pet food manufacturing plants, examining raw material sourcing, production processes, and hygiene to establish a robust safety net from the point of origin. Pet owners are advised to consult the "Pet Food Declaration Network" for product information and to carefully review Chinese labels for details on ingredients, additives, nutrition, and manufacturers before purchasing.

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The operator provided internal reports for reference, but they lacked legal credibility. After evaluation, it was determined to be beyond reasonable error margins, thus constituting false labeling in violation of Article 22-5 of the Animal Protection Act.