Gyeongbuk Province announced on August 13 that it is proceeding without any setbacks in implementing various measures to end dog meat consumption by 2027.
According to the Special Act on the Termination of Breeding, Slaughter, and Distribution for Dog Meat Consumption, which was announced on February 6, the establishment of new dog meat farms, slaughterhouses, distributors, and food service businesses involved in dog meat is immediately prohibited.
Gyeongbuk Province asked existing operators to submit a report by May 7. This report should include the facility’s name, address, size, and operational period. Operators must also provide a compliance plan by August 5 detailing their plans for reducing operations and demolitions and the expected date for either closure or transition to their respective city or county offices.
As a result, all dog meat-related businesses in Gyeongbuk, including farms, distribution businesses, and food service establishments, submitted their implementation plans within the deadline.
Businesses that submitted compliance plans will be included in the support program for closure and transition, which the government will announce in September.
If dog consumption-related businesses wish to transition, Gyeongbuk Province will provide consulting through a team connected with local governments and agricultural cooperatives. In the first stage, the team will visit the sites to assess the business status, desired livestock, and feasibility of permits.
In the second stage, the Rural Development Administration and the Agricultural Cooperative Federation will provide professional technical education and guidance on managing the newly introduced livestock. The third stage will involve in-depth consulting support.
Kim Joo Ryeong, the Director of the Agricultural and Livestock Distribution Bureau, stated, “We will work to improve the conditions for animal protection and welfare by establishing the government’s compensation plan and the province’s support measures by the law to end dog meat consumption.”