19.7.2026

A gentle reminder from the FEHD dedicated team:

During inspections, the dedicated team will pay special attention to the pest control arrangements of the dog-friendly restaurants to ensure that the relevant devices are placed in compliance with safety standards, thereby safeguarding public health while keeping dogs safe.

According to the licensing conditions, all poisonous baits or pest/rodent-trapping devices in restaurants shall be kept out of reach of dogs.

All poisonous baits, snap traps, glue traps and other pest/rodent-trapping devices inside food premises shall be kept completely out of reach of dogs. As dogs have an extremely keen sense of smell and are prone to be curious about objects on the ground, improperly placed chemical agents, such as rodenticides or poisonous baits, may lead to severe poisoning if accidentally ingested by a dog. Furthermore, improperly positioned mechanical trapping devices, such as traditional snap traps, may cause serious injury if a dog accidentally touches or steps on them. Therefore, stringent requirements on the placement of pest/rodent control devices are indispensable for safeguarding animal safety and maintaining environmental hygiene.

To further enhance safety protection, the FEHD advises restaurant staff to clearly indicate the names of the poisons used and their specific chemical ingredients on all bait boxes, so that in the unfortunate event of an emergency where a dog accidentally ingest a poisonous bait, veterinarians can promptly identify the ingredients and provide effective treatment.

While the trade must strictly comply with the above licensing conditions, dog owners must also fulfil their responsibilities for controlling their dogs. When bringing dogs into unfamiliar restaurant environments, owners should maintain proper control of the leashes, which must be no longer than 1.5 metres, and closely monitor their dogs' behaviours to keep them away from dark spots, wall corners, or gaps between tables and chairs, in a joint effort to keeping their dogs safe.

The protection of food safety and animal welfare requires the trade and the public to work together to create a safe, inclusive and diverse dining environment.