‘Special Act to End Dog Eating’ passed by the National Assembly… Prison sentence for breeding or slaughtering for food purposes

Starting in 2027, breeding, slaughtering, distributing, and selling dogs for food will be prohibited by law in Korea.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced that the ‘Special Act on the Ending of Breeding, Slaughtering, and Distribution of Dogs for Food Purposes’ (hereinafter referred to as the Special Act on Ending the Breeding, Slaughter, and Distribution of Dogs for Food Purposes) was passed at the plenary session of the National Assembly on the 9th.

When the ‘Special Act on Dogs for Eating Dogs’ is promulgated, the operation of new or additional breeding farms, slaughter, distribution, and sales facilities for dogs for the purpose of consumption will be prohibited immediately upon promulgation.

Breeding farms, etc. must report their operational status to local governments within 3 months of promulgation and submit a termination implementation plan within 6 months.

Starting three years after the date of promulgation, breeding, slaughtering, distributing, and selling dogs for food purposes will be prohibited. Accordingly, slaughtering an animal is punishable by up to 3 years in prison or a fine of up to 30 million won, and breeding, propagation, distribution, or selling is punishable by up to 2 years in prison or a fine of up to 20 million won.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said, “We saw the end of dog meat consumption as a task that must be solved in order to become an advanced country in animal welfare, and promoted it as one of our national tasks.” He also added, “Politicians, both ruling and opposition parties, adopted the enactment of a special law as their party line and promptly processed it, thereby opposing dog meat consumption.” “We actively responded to the expectations of the majority of the public and the needs of society at the time.”

Following the enactment of the ‘Special Act on the End of Dog Eating’, the breeding, slaughter, distribution, and sale of dogs for human consumption will be prohibited by law in Korea, like the United States and Taiwan, from 2027.

Meanwhile, the government plans to provide as much support as possible within a reasonable range to ensure that breeding farms, slaughter and distribution merchants, and restaurants that close their businesses under special laws can continue their stable economic activities.

Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Song Mi-ryeong said, “Korea is rapidly transforming into an animal welfare society, and now is the time for the government to act to quickly resolve the issue of dog consumption,” adding, “We will continue to communicate with the meat industry, animal protection groups, etc. to provide support within a reasonable range.” “We are planning to prepare a plan, so we ask the meat industry and the public to cooperate,” he said.