[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced on the 24th that from the 25th until December 17, it will conduct a special inspection of pet-related businesses in local governments for the second half of the year.
The inspection targets approximately 1,000 pet-related businesses under the Animal Protection Act, including animal funeral services, sales, grooming, and six other types. Each local government will form a metropolitan inspection team, while the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs will organize a central special inspection team.
The inspection will focus on criteria such as appropriate staffing levels for animal producers and mandatory items to be recorded in sales contracts by animal sales businesses. Producers must assign at least one staff member per 75 dogs or cats aged 12 months or older. Sales contracts must include the business registration number for animal sales, the animal's birth date, the producing (importing) company, and veterinary treatment records such as vaccinations.
Additionally, the inspection will enforce ▲ the obligation of sellers to apply for animal registration after sales ▲ the obligation of transporters to disinfect vehicles before and after transporting animals ▲ special crackdowns on unlicensed and unregistered businesses. In particular, unlicensed and unregistered businesses will face strict follow-up measures such as prosecution.
Kim Jihyun, Director of the Animal Welfare Policy Division at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, urged, "We ask pet business operators to use this inspection as an opportunity to self-check their facilities and operations and to strive for animal protection and welfare."
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