On January 15, 2026, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs issued the Trial Measures for the Classification Management of Pet Diagnosis and Treatment Institutions, specifying that a three-level qualification certification system (Level 1, Level 2, Level 3) for pet diagnosis and treatment institutions will be implemented nationwide starting July 1. Level 3 institutions are required to be equipped with specialist veterinarians, independent operating rooms and imaging equipment, while Level 1 institutions are limited to providing basic services such as diagnosis and treatment, and vaccine inoculation. All institutions must access the National Veterinary Health Information Platform to realize the full-process traceability of medical records, prescriptions and medication use. This measure will resolve the chaos of improper medical reception in the industry and promote the professionalization and stratification of the pet medical sector.

The Pet Afterlife Service Specifications group standard, led by the China Animal Agriculture Association and jointly drafted by leading brands including Zhongmu, has been officially implemented. The standard formulates detailed rules for 12 core links such as remains transportation, cleaning and disinfection, and cremation procedures. It requires the use of sealed and leak-proof special boxes for remains transportation, separate furnaces for cremation with video recording of the process, and mandates that service institutions be staffed with at least one professional trained in psychological counseling to provide emotional support for pet owners. This standard will put an end to the problems of chaotic pricing and opaque processes in the industry, and drive the standardized upgrading of pet afterlife services.

At the start of 2026, the pet service chain brand Ta Zhuyi announced that its national store count has exceeded 300, covering 50 cities. Relying on its independently developed “Chongbao Cloud Store” system, the brand has realized standardized operation of the entire service process, including bathing water temperature, service duration and grooming styles. Pet owners can check the service progress and pet health reports in real time. Through its in-depth joint operation model, the brand provides supply chain and training resources to partner stores, achieving a 92% store survival rate. In the future, the brand will expand into pet health management and home services, building a full-life-cycle pet service ecosystem.

To address the shortage of over 100,000 licensed veterinarians in the pet medical industry, Neopet, a leading pet medical enterprise, recently announced a partnership with 10 universities to launch the “1,000 Pet Veterinarians Training Program”. The program aims to train 1,000 specialist veterinarians with clinical diagnosis capabilities within 3 years. Universities will be responsible for theoretical teaching, while Neopet will provide clinical training bases and salary subsidies, with trainees directly employed by its affiliated hospitals upon graduation. A special pet medical research fund will also be established to support university research in areas such as pet infectious diseases and geriatric diseases. This university-enterprise joint training model will accelerate the filling of the talent gap in the pet medical industry.

From October to December 2025, the State Administration for Market Regulation, in conjunction with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, launched a special rectification campaign targeting the pet service industry, focusing on illegal practices such as unlicensed operation, false publicity and practicing beyond licensed scope. Statistics show that over 4,300 pet grooming and diagnosis institutions were inspected nationwide, with 210 irregular institutions penalized and 12 diagnosis licenses revoked. Among them, a chain pet grooming salon was fined 50,000 yuan for using unqualified grooming products and employing staff without health certificates; several “pet hospitals” were ordered to suspend business for performing surgeries without licensed veterinarians. A compliance guide for pet service institutions was also released during the campaign, requiring grooming shops to display staff health certificates and diagnosis institutions to hang their qualification certificates publicly. The authorities stated that a regular random inspection mechanism will be established to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of pet owners.

The State Administration for Market Regulation recently issued the national standard Pet Boarding Service Specifications, which will take effect on May 1, 2026. The standard stipulates that pet boarding institutions must provide each pet with an independent activity space of no less than 1 square meter, install 24-hour video surveillance accessible to pet owners, conduct mandatory health checks before boarding, ensure pets get at least 30 minutes of daily outdoor exercise, and keep detailed records of their diet and defecation. Detailed requirements for fire safety and hygiene conditions of boarding institutions are also specified. This standard will address the long-standing problems of overcrowded cages and inadequate care in the pet boarding industry, driving the transformation from extensive custody to refined care.