Photo credit: Animal Freedom Korea

IDA has learned from our colleagues at Animal Freedom Korea (AFK) that the Ministry of the Office for Government Policy Coordination in Korea plans to legalize the sale of dog meat by setting standards for hygienic slaughter and processing. The Ministry recently completed a report on "the hygienic control of dog meat," and is about to open an internal debate. Under current Korean law, dogs cannot be sold as food, but the law is not enforced. If the Ministry's plans for hygienic control succeed, it will effectively legalize the dog meat market.
 
If the sanitary and environmental problems are as serious as to require government intervention, then the Korean Government must ban dog meat – not legalize it – in order to protect its citizens. AFK participated in the policy discussion for the hygienic control of dog meat and strongly opposed the measure. The group is actively working to block all efforts to legalize dog meat in Korea.

The sale of dog meat can only be legalized if the scheme is approved by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF), which is responsible for the hygienic control of livestock. However, the MAF has already stated that it is impossible to hygienically control dog meat. In addition, the people of Korea must support legalization for it to take effect. The fact is, very few Koreans eat dog meat and most wish to see it banned. Despite this, the Ministry of the Office for Government Policy Coordination continues to seek legalization.