Central and Local Governments Met to Share Information 

on Policy for Prohibiting Dog Meat Consumption

Sejong, 4 April 2024 — From 21 March to 1 April, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs held a meeting 

with officials of local governments to give detailed information about the ‘Special Act on Prohibition of Raising, Butchering, 

Distributing, Etc. of Dogs for Human Consumption.’ 

The meeting was held to explain details of the Act, announced on 6 February; explain key policies such as mandatory registration 

of dog meat business operations and submission of their plans to close down their businesses or transition to other types of 

business; and enhance local authorities’ understanding of the new policy banning dog meat consumption through a Q&A session.  

Starting from the date of the announcement of the Act on 6 February, establishment and operation of new or additional dog farms and 

other related facilities run for the purpose of dog meat consumption will be prohibited. From 2027, raising, butchering, distribution, 

and sale of dogs for human consumption will be completely banned.

Requirements to receive government support include mandatory registration of dog meat business operations and submission of 

the phasing-out plans that must be done by the time set forth in the Act. Accordingly, dog farmers, butchers, traders, and restaurant owners 

providing services for the purpose of dog meat consumption must register their current business status information with local authorities 

by 7 May, and then submit their plans to phase out their business to local authorities by 5 August.

The ministry will enact lower statutes for effective enforcement of the Act. The ministry will also establish a basic plan, by the second half 

of this year, to end dog meat consumption in 2027. The basic plan will include support measures for closing down dog meat businesses

or switching to other types of business. 

Director General Park Jung-hoon of the Animal Welfare and Environment Policy Bureau of the ministry said: “We are going to provide support, 

to the fullest reasonable extent, for dog farmers who will have to close down their business or switch to other types of business to help them 

continue economic activities in a stable manner. We will also do our best to minimize the trial and error in the paths towards the ending 

of dog meat consumption. And we will listen to various opinions from people in the industry and include them into our detailed implementation plan.”