The government would not recognize “pet psychic” as a valid profession, as it is not backed by any scientific evidence, Minister of Agriculture Chen Junne-jih (陳駿季) said yesterday.
Chen made the remarks during a meeting of the legislature’s Economics Committee in Taipei.
Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Cheng Cheng-chien (鄭正鈐) asked Chen if the ministry planned to propose guidelines or other mechanisms to regulate so-called “pet psychics,” which have become a trending topic online.
Photo: AP
“There is no real scientific evidence to support the practice of a pet psychic, and we would not recognize such a professional,” Chen told Cheng.
Cheng then asked what the ministry would do about self-claimed licensed “pet communicators.”
Chen said the ministry focuses on two aspects regarding pet management — pets and pet-related businesses — and would offer guidelines on pet-related practices or businesses.
Chen also told lawmakers that the ministry is proposing ways to balance supply and demand of the egg industry amid a continual fall in prices.
The price of domestically produced eggs has dropped to NT$27.5 per 600g from NT$30.5, the lowest in the past two years, due to weak demand during the Dragon Boat Festival long weekend.
Egg prices have fallen for the fifth time in the past two months.
Chen told lawmakers that demand for eggs has been low.
Aside from encouraging egg purchases, Chen said the ministry aims to offer incentives for egg farmers to retire aging hens as a way to control production.
“We had a meeting on Wednesday to discuss ways to balance the supply and demand of eggs and ensure that the industry would grow sustainably,” Chen told reporters.
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