600,000 won per dog will be provided in case of closure of dog breeding business for food purposes… Reduce dog meat use to ‘zero’ by 2027

The government will actively support the transition and closure of 5,898 dog meat industries and promote awareness of the value of animal welfare to reduce dog meat consumption to ‘zero’ by 2027.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced on the 26th the ‘Basic Plan for Dog Eating Eating’, which contains specific solutions for each sector to end dog eating by 2027.

Accordingly, farm owners who breed dogs for food will be supported with a maximum of 600,000 won and a minimum of 225,000 won per dog depending on the time of business closure, based on the annual average number of dogs reported to the city, county, or district.

This is a business closure promotion subsidy paid to farm owners with an emphasis on early reduction of the scale of dog breeding for food purposes, and is structured to provide more support in the event of an early transition or closure.

In addition, we plan to spread social consensus for the stable establishment of dog meat breeding and, in particular, thoroughly crack down on practices prohibited by law after 2027.

Meanwhile, in accordance with the ‘Dog Meat Species Act’ enacted in February, breeding, slaughtering, distributing, and selling dogs for human consumption will be prohibited from February 7, 2027, and industries currently operating for the purpose of eating dogs will have to relocate or close their businesses by the time of the ban. It must be carried out compulsorily.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs specified the policy direction to end the consumption of dogs through discussions with related ministries and stakeholders based on a fact-finding survey on the current status of the related industry and research services from specialized organizations. The basic plan was reviewed at the Dog Meat Eating End Committee on the 24th. It was confirmed.

This basic plan aims to completely achieve dog meat breeding by 2027 and presents specific means of implementation based on three promotion strategies: ▲incentives for business relocation and closure by industry for early termination ▲establishing a system for implementation of termination without disruption ▲spreading social consensus .

First, we provide support for the relocation and closure of 5,898 dog meat industries.

All 5,898 dog meat industries that have reported their operational status in accordance with the Dog Meat Species Act have submitted a plan for relocation or closure of their business, and the government plans to actively support the industry’s smooth transition and closure.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs focuses on early reduction of the scale of dog breeding for food purposes and provides business closure promotion subsidies to farm owners.

Under the structure of paying more subsidies in the event of an early transition or closure of the business, the farm owner receives a maximum of 600,000 won and a minimum of 225,000 won per animal per animal based on the annual average number of animals raised as reported to the city, county, or district, and a minimum of 225,000 won depending on the period of business closure, and the farm owner can increase the breeding area. The appropriate number of breeding animals calculated as a standard is applied as the upper limit.

When a farm owner or slaughter merchant goes out of business, the remaining value of the facility calculated through an appraisal is supported, while the local government takes care of the demolition of the facility, and when the business changes to agriculture, it provides low-interest loans for related facilities or operating funds.

For distributors and food service providers who are going out of business, in connection with the Ministry of SMEs and Startups’ support project for closed small business owners, store demolition costs of up to KRW 2.5 million this year and up to KRW 4 million after next year and re-employment success allowances of up to KRW 1.9 million next year will be supported. If you change your menu or type of meat and change jobs, we plan to support up to 2.5 million won for the cost of replacing signage and menu boards.

In addition, a system for implementing dog meat species without disruption will be established.

In order to preemptively reduce the breeding scale, which is currently estimated at 466,000 animals, we plan to guide population management and systematically inspect farms, including minimizing voluntary breeding by farmers.

Dogs in cage – Moran Market, Seongnam, South Korea Credit: Kim Bartlett – Animal People, Inc (CC BY-NC 2.0)

Dogs that are inevitably left behind due to abandonment of breeding are protected and managed, including support for adoption, in accordance with the Animal Protection Act.

In addition, we plan to provide administrative support, such as consulting for each sector, to help industries experiencing difficulties in transitioning and closing their businesses in a stable manner, while systematically inspecting and managing the status of fulfillment of obligations under the Dog Meat Breeds Act.

Next, to ensure the stable establishment of dog meat species, we will spread social consensus and thoroughly crack down on practices prohibited by law after 2027.

In order to end the consumption culture of dog meat, as well as the commercial distribution network for dog meat, we are promoting multifaceted campaigns and promotions such as awareness of animal welfare values ​​and improving food culture, while promoting education by life cycle for companion animals to build a consensus on the end of dog meat consumption. It spreads.

After the end of the grace period for the Dog Meat Breeds Act, a joint inspection team will be formed between the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and local governments to thoroughly crack down on the breeding, slaughter, distribution and sale of dogs for human consumption.

Park Beom-soo, Vice Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, said, “We will strive to follow up on the basic plan so that dog meat breeding can be implemented without a hitch,” and added, “Not only related industries but also the public will actively cooperate with government policies to achieve complete abolition within the deadline.” “I hope you give it to me,” he requested.

Roadmap for basic plan for dog meat breeding method. (Credit: Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs)

Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs