Group 1 - The meeting marks a significant step towards the professionalization and standardization of the pet funeral service industry in China [2] - The pet funeral service is increasingly recognized as an essential part of the pet lifecycle, reflecting deep emotional connections with pets [2] - Establishing a scientific, unified, and authoritative skill evaluation standard for pet funeral practitioners is crucial for improving service quality, protecting consumer rights, and promoting healthy industry development [2] Group 2 - The meeting was organized by the National Cooperative Federation's Vocational Skills Appraisal Guidance Center, aiming to develop evaluation standards for pet funeral practitioners [1] - The meeting was attended by experts from various regions, including educational institutions and service companies, indicating a collaborative effort in standard development [1] - Shanghai Qianchong Pet Service Co., Ltd. is the leading unit in this standardization effort, working alongside other experts to ensure the content is practical and meets industry needs [1]

Core Insights - The pet funeral service industry in China is rapidly growing due to increasing pet ownership and changing attitudes towards pet care, with over 1.2 billion pets expected by 2024 and millions of pets dying each year [1][6] - The market size of the pet funeral industry reached 1.825 billion yuan in 2023, projected to grow to 5 billion yuan by 2025 and exceed 10 billion yuan by 2030 [6] Industry Overview - The pet funeral service includes a range of post-mortem services such as body disposal, burial, cremation, and memorialization [4] - As of June 2025, there are over 8,000 registered companies in China offering pet funeral services, with most established in the last three years [4] Regulatory Environment - Recent updates to laws and regulations, such as the revised Animal Epidemic Prevention Law in 2021, mandate proper disposal of deceased pets, contributing to the industry's growth [5] - Local regulations in cities like Shanghai require pet owners to send deceased pets to designated disposal facilities rather than burying them [5] Market Challenges - The industry faces issues such as unlicensed operations, false advertising, and chaotic pricing structures [2][7] - Reports of misleading practices include "backseat cremation" and mixing multiple pets during cremation, leading to consumer distrust [8][9] Recommendations for Improvement - Experts suggest enhancing regulations and standards for pet funeral services, clarifying responsibilities for pet owners and veterinary institutions regarding proper disposal [13] - There is a call for improved public awareness and a collaborative regulatory framework involving multiple government departments to ensure compliance and protect consumer rights [14]