Beijing disputes claims of unsafe pet treats

China's quality watchdog has denied reports that dog and cat treats made in China are responsible for pet illnesses and deaths in the United States.

US pet retailers Petco Animal Supplies Inc and PetSmart Inc announced in May that they will end the sale of dog and cat treats made in China in a move that Petco said will protect the "well-being of pets", the Los Angeles Times reported.

The US Food and Drug Administration also issued a warning in May to consumers about a potential association between the development of illness in dogs and the consumption of chicken jerky products, adding that some of the products were manufactured in China.

In response to the report, Lu Chunming, a spokesman for the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, said the authority believes the link between the pet illnesses in the US and the pet treats produced in China was "lacking scientific grounds".

Lu added that the pet treats exported to the US from China were produced in strict accordance with US standards, and there have not been commercial disputes and complaints for years.

Lu added that the authority learned that US authorities has so far not been able to determine a concrete reason for the death of the dogs.