The Environment Ministry is planning stricter standards for animal care at zoos and pet shops.

Ministry sources said Tuesday the new standards will be mandated under the animal protection law. They are aimed at reducing the stress on these animals, which often live for long periods in unnatural environments and under the glare of the public.

Implementation is expected in the spring. They will mark the first update to the standards in 28 years. A draft is to be presented soon to an animal protection subcommittee of the Central Environment Council.

The envisioned new standards will cover photo studios and film sets, urging them not to harm animals, portray them in unnatural settings or have them engage in abnormal behavior, the sources said.

Zoos and pet shops will be required to provide environments for animals that are secure, healthy and promote natural behavior. Pet shops will also be required to set time restrictions on how long animals can be viewed and to allow young animals to be raised by their parents for as long as necessary.

It was learned that in one Tokyo pet shop that stays open late, a dog was seen lying in a transparent cage under a fluorescent light with nothing to play with or even a water dish.

Veterinarian Chizuko Yamaguchi, who is an inspector for the Japan Animal Welfare Society, voiced concern over animals in this predicament.

"It's very stressful (for animals) to be perpetually watched by humans in an unnatural environment," she said. "They need somewhere to rest or hide (inside the cage)."

The new standard will include measures on emergency plans for animals during disasters such as earthquakes or fires.