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"Our understanding is that only animals on the list can be bred, raised, traded, and so on for food or fur under this ministerial regulation," said Dr Karanvir Kukreja, project manager for Four Paws’ Ending the Dog and Cat Meat Trade Campaign.

"To the best of our knowledge, there is no actual ban on consumption," he said.

The new regulations follow the landmark city-wide bans of dog eating in the southern cities of Shenzhen and Zhuhai in April.

Animal welfare group Humane Society International estimates that 30 million dogs are killed for human consumption across Asia each year. Of these, between 10 million and 20 million dogs are slaughtered in China.

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A spokesperson for the ministry told a reporter that "humans' ideas of civilisation and eating habits are constantly changing, and some traditional customs about dogs will also change".

The spokesperson said that dogs have a long history of domestication. In the past, they were mainly used in nursing homes and for hunting. Now they have more diverse uses, including for human companionship and to help police in search and rescue operations. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation does not include dogs with livestock and poultry.

Dr Kukreja said Beijing had not issued any information about this month's Yulin dog meat festival during which thousands of dogs were usually killed for their meat.

Dr Katherine Polak, veterinarian and head of Four Paws Stray Animal Care in south-east Asia said, "Now is the time for Vietnam, Cambodia and Indonesia to finally act as China has done to protect public health and to bring an end to this cruel trade.

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"In addition to immense animal suffering, the trade is also responsible for outbreaks of diseases such as rabies and cholera.

"And as we now know, global health and economy can suffer as a result of deadly zoonotic viruses that are emerging from live animal markets where dog and cat meat are regularly sold," she said.

Shenzhen highlighted the relationship between dogs and humans when passing its ban in April.

"Dogs and cats as pets have established a much closer relationship with humans than all other animals, and banning the consumption of dogs and cats and other pets is a common practice in developed countries and in Hong Kong and Taiwan. This ban also responds to the demand and spirit of human civilisation," the city government said.