Ten animal hospitals in Gyeongnam Province were caught by the Gyeongnam Provincial Special Judicial Police for violating medical waste disposal regulations.
The Gyeongnam Special Judicial Police announced on the 4th that they had inspected 48 animal hospitals in the province with two or more veterinarians from May 13 to June 30.
This inspection was conducted to strengthen the safety management of medical waste at animal hospitals as the number of households with companion animals increases, and to prevent secondary infections due to rising temperatures.
The animal hospitals caught were mainly found to have disposed of medical waste in regular trash bins or left it outside instead of using designated storage containers.
Some hospitals were also found to have failed to store animal tissues, organs, body parts, carcasses, or blood in refrigerated facilities, or had exceeded the 122-day storage period.
The special judicial police of Gyeongnam Province are inspecting animal hospitals within the province. [Photo by Gyeongnam Provincial Government]
The Special Judicial Police sent advance notice of the inspection to the targeted hospitals to encourage proper disposal and voluntary action, but some hospitals were found to have committed four types of violations simultaneously.
The Special Judicial Police plan to directly investigate the animal hospitals caught and refer them to the prosecution, while the relevant city and county authorities will check for improvements through administrative measures and on-site inspections.
According to the Waste Management Act, violating the standards and methods for storing or disposing of medical waste can result in imprisonment for up to two years or a fine of up to 20 million won.
Park Youngjun, head of the Social Disaster Division, stated, "As the number of citizens raising companion animals increases, we will continue planned inspections of animal hospitals," and requested, "Please cooperate so that we can realize a safer Gyeongnam through voluntary compliance in managing medical waste."
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