WE ARE ONE MORE STEP CLOSER!
Dear John,
I am excited to bring you news from S. Korea. Today, December 20th, the ‘Special Bill for the End of Dog Meat Consumption’ was successfully passed by the Ag Committee of the S. Korean National Assembly. This is a swift progression following the Ag Sub-Committee’s approval last week on the 12th. (Watch our YouTube video of the Ag Committee passing the Bill here.)
The 3 key provisions of the Special Bill include:
1. Establishing and implementing the 'Basic Plan to End Dog Meat Consumption,' which entails formulating relevant government policies, supporting the closure and transition of businesses, and ensuring the protection of dogs affected by these operations. This is deemed a responsibility of both national and local governments.
2. Mandating all existing industry operators to register their current facilities and submit and execute an exit plan for these facilities. Local governments are empowered to conduct inspections at least twice a year to monitor implementation status, and the establishment of new facilities is strictly prohibited.
3. Prohibiting the slaughter, breeding, distribution, and sale of dogs for human consumption. This measure will take effect three years after the bill passes, with penalties including imprisonment for up to 2-3 years and/or fines of up to 2-30 million Korean won. Local governments are authorized to order the closure and sealing of facilities for businesses violating this prohibition.
The unanimous support for the Special Bill during today's meeting reaffirms the commitment of both the ruling and opposition parties to ending the dog meat trade and consumption in S. Korea. Moreover, it was mentioned during the meeting that the national initiative to halt the country's dog meat trade serves as a crucial precedent that may influence the treatment of other animal species exploited for human needs.
With today’s passage, the Special Bill is now one more step closer to being enacted by the S. Korean National Assembly. If it is processed without delay in the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, the voting at the Plenary Session should come soon.
Through years of undercover investigations, media presence and public campaigns, LCA/ALW have put unwavering effort to put an end to the dog meat trade.
We are excited for the movement of this historic Bill and will keep you updated with further developments!
For the animals,
Jiyen Lee
President of LCA's S. Korea Sister Organization,
Animal Liberation Wave (ALW)
