South Korea plans to introduce a ban on producing, promoting and consuming canine meat. How widespread is the practise?
South Korea is planning to finish the controversial practise of consuming canine meat.
Although solely a small minority of individuals nonetheless eat canine meat in South Korea, the traditional practise has been the topic of sharp criticism from international media and animal rights advocates. Now, the nation’s younger generations have joined calls to ban it.
In a briefing on 17 November, the federal government stated it plans to enact a particular legislation throughout the yr banning the breeding, slaughter, distribution and sale of dogs for meals.
As a part of this, dogs will likely be excluded from the nation’s Livestock Act, thereby recognising their standing as companion animals.
How widespread is canine meat in South Korea?
In 2022, South Korea’s nationwide broadcaster KBS reported that greater than half 1,000,000 dogs have been being raised for meals throughout the nation and 1,600 eating places have been promoting canine meat.
As of February final yr, there have been 1,156 farms breeding dogs for meat and 34 slaughterhouses, in accordance with the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.
A grace interval of three years will likely be given to permit the business to transition and shut down, with crackdowns beginning in 2027. Government assist can even be supplied to assist with the transition.
Is South Korea’s canine meat ban more likely to move?
South Korea’s ruling conservative People Power Party is behind the latest requires a ban on consuming canine meat. Their largest rival, the Democratic Party, has additionally stated it helps a ban.
With an election looming in April 2024, the end result is due to this fact unlikely to derail the choice.
A 2023 survey by animal rights group Korea Humane Society International (Korea HSI) and analysis company NielsenIQ confirmed public assist too, with 57 per cent of the 1,500 respondents in favour.
More than 86 per cent of the adults surveyed stated they haven’t any intention of consuming dogs sooner or later, no matter whether or not they had prior to now.
It additionally discovered an elevated adverse notion of canine meat amongst these of their 40s and 50s, and elevated consensus on the necessity to shield the welfare of the animals.
There has been some vocal opposition to the proposed ban, with an business group rallying in entrance of the National Assembly building in Seoul following the announcement.
They stated the legislation would “rob people of their basic right to eat” and “fail to protect farmers”, South Korean day by day newspaper The Hankyoreh reviews.
