Shenzhen has become the first Chinese city to ban eating of dogs and cats in a move to clamp down on wildlife trade since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus in that country in late December-early January.
The local authorities have said the ban will come into effect from May 1.
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The Chinese government had announced in late February that it was banning the trade and consumption of wild animals. Provincial and city governments across the country have thereafter been gearing up to enforce the order, Shenzhen being the first to extend that ban to cats and dogs.
If anyone is caught violating the law, he will be fined 30 times of the animal’s value, if the value is above 10,000 CNY ($1400 USD), said local authorities.
