TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Ministry of Agriculture on Tuesday announced that keeping 641 animals as household pets will be banned starting May 1.

The ministry said the majority of the animals have been prohibited from being imported since 2022, per CNA. Many of them are venomous or aggressive, like snakes or crocodiles.

The ministry warned that abandoned or escaped animals could pose threats to public safety and the environment. After consultations with stakeholders and a public notice period, authorities decided to expand the existing import ban to include household ownership.

People who already keep these animals before the rule takes effect may continue to do so. However, they must register them through the Ministry of Agriculture’s Pet Registration Information System within one year or face fines ranging from NT$50,000 (US$1,570) to NT$250,000 and confiscation of the animal.

Following registration, city or county governments will send personnel to inspect the site and verify the animal’s condition. Owners may then legally keep the animal until the end of its life.

Animal exhibition businesses, academic research institutions, and those raising them for economic purposes, such as saltwater crocodile farming, may still apply to local governments for approval.