A proposed law that would be China's first on animal welfare prohibits the consumption of dog and cat meat, and sets penalties including a fine of up to 5,000 yuan ($735) and up to 15 days' detention for transgressors.

Those found guilty of selling the meat would be fined 10,000-500,000 yuan ($1,470-$73,500), according to a draft of the law that is being written by a panel of legal experts, the Beijing-based Mirror Evening News reported.

But the inclusion of such a ban into the law is not yet final. "There are still many difficulties to overcome before (legislators) include the article against consumption of dog and cat meat into the draft law," said Chang Jiwen, head of the panel and a law institute researcher under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.