Human consumption of dog and cat meat has been made illegal in Taiwan, according to a landmark amendment to its Animal Protection Act approved by the island's legislative body on Tuesday.

The new legislation, which is expected to take effect by the end of the month, has imposed a fine of up to 250,000 new Taiwan dollars (about 8,200 US dollars) for selling, buying, eating or possessing dog and cat meat or food products that contain parts of the animals, local media reported. Offenders' names, photos and details of infringements will also be publicized.

Additionally, the amendment has imposed more severe punishments on acts of animal cruelty. Those who kill or intentionally harm animals will be subjected to a maximum of two years in prison or a fine of up to two million new Taiwan dollars (about 65,500 US dollars).

"Walking" the pet on a leash pulled by cars and motorcycles has also been banned.

Across the Strait, many people on the Chinese mainland have been calling for a similar ban, especially since a controversial "dog meat festival" in Yulin, a small town in southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, caused heated debate several years ago.

According to a Xinhua report on June 19, 2016, a survey showed about 64 percent of respondents aged 16 to 50 would support a permanent end to the infamous annual event in Yulin.

It also showed 51.7 percent of the respondents wanted the dog meat trade banned completely, while 69.5 percent claimed to have never eaten dog meat.

"The poll shows most people here don't eat dogs," said Qin Xiaona, director of the Capital Animal Welfare Association charity, one of a cluster of animal welfare groups that commissioned the survey.

In Hong Kong, eating dogs or cats carries a maximum penalty of 5,000 Hong Kong dollars (about 640 US dollars) or up to six months in prison, according to the Dogs and Cats Ordinance of the Special Administrative Region.