Lawmakers Discuss Pet Regulations, Waterfront Economy at 'Two Sessions'

Lawmakers from Minhang District have offered valuable suggestions and actionable plans on the public's well-being and community issues at the annual "Two Sessions" covering topics varying from pet regulations to water resource management.

Zhang Yimin, a National People's Congress deputy and Party Secretary of Lusheng Village in Pujin Subdistrict, proposed accelerating pet ownership and funeral service legislation at the "Two Sessions" held in Beijing in early March.

Zhang frequently overheard pet owners lamenting the lack of a suitable burial place for their deceased pets.

The recently published China Pet Industry White Paper claimed China's urban pet consumption market would be worth 312.6 billion yuan (US$45.3 billion), with 126 million dogs and cats.

He also learned about the conflicts between pet funeral service providers and residents' concerns about environmental pollution.

In addition to pet funerals, there are also issues such as the indiscriminate disposal of pet waste, abandoned pets and pets causing a nuisance and disputes in the neighborhoods.

The lack of clear rules and standards is at the heart of these issues, leaving everyone confused, he found.

At this year's national "Two Sessions," he put forward two pieces of advice.

Firstly, legal provisions should be refined to clarify each party's responsibilities. Institutional frameworks shall cover pet feces disposal, abandoned pet management and pet funerals. Define dispute resolution and responsibility allocation procedures to give authorities a legal basis for supervision and law enforcement.

Second, regulators shall raise industry standards and strengthen market oversight. In key sectors like pet funeral services, uniform industry standards shall strictly regulate market entry, professional qualifications of relevant service providers, service charging schedules and environmental protection.

Daily supervision shall also be carried out to penalize business operators who violate industry standards or lack the necessary qualifications.

While Zhang focuses on national-level legislation at the Two Sessions, another Minhang deputy is seeing a district-level proposal from last year come to life.

Li Yan, a Minhang NPC representative, saw the lack of coordination and systematic planning for the water resources in the Pujin Subdistrict a couple of years ago. She submitted a proposal to develop Pujin's "waterfront economy" at the district people's congress in January 2025.

She suggested overall regional planning, focusing on regional waterway development around the Jiangyue Lake and creating a new business model integrating water sports, waterfront café and tourism attractions.

The district government wasted no time responding. Upon receiving the proposal, the subdistrict authorities discussed its specifics with Li.

The proposal was highly aligned with Pujin's development objective of creating a riverside lifestyle corridor by the end of 2025.

The results are tangible. In 2024, the district hosted canoe invitational tournaments and renovated shops along the river's north bank.

In October 2025, the Pujin Subdistrict authorities formally sent feedback to Li, confirming that the suggestions mentioned in her proposal had been resolved.

It also outlined the subdistrict's specific initiatives for the waterfront economy and has set out plans for the next phase, including continued focus on the integration of the pet economy, culture, commerce, tourism, sport and the night-time economy. It will continue to improve the nearby waterfront region's infrastructure, enhance the quality of the roadside and waterfront environment, and, at the same time, explore new ways to revitalize and utilize waterfront spaces.