Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Animal Welfare Policy Division Reviews Progress on Key Initiatives

Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Animal Welfare Policy Division Accelerates Policies for Respecting Animal Life and Industrial Development

South Korea has become a society where living with companion animals is commonplace, with approximately 30% of households raising pets. Concurrently, societal demand for improving the living conditions of farm animals has steadily grown. Amidst these societal shifts, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) Animal Welfare Policy Division is speeding up its policy implementation to enhance animal welfare, including revising the Animal Protection Act, expanding the Animal Welfare Certified Farm program, vitalizing the protection and adoption of abandoned animals, and strengthening education for livestock industry professionals. This is analyzed as a strategic move to realize the value of respecting animal life while simultaneously achieving multifaceted goals such as sustainable livestock industry development and fostering public sentiment.

1. Background of Animal Welfare Policy Implementation: Growing Societal Demand and International Trends

1-1. Surge in Companion Animal Households and Exploding Welfare Demands

As of 2023, approximately 30% of all households in South Korea were reported to be raising companion animals. With a clear trend of companion animals being perceived not just as pets but as 'family members,' policy demands have exploded. The severity of the abandoned and lost animal issue has emerged as a significant social concern, and public awareness of animal cruelty crimes has heightened. Furthermore, interest in the overall quality of life for companion animals, including their health, safety, disease prevention, and behavioral issues, has deepened, leading to rapid growth in related industries. The MAFRA Animal Welfare Policy Division is working diligently to implement policies that keep pace with these societal changes, addressing challenges such as improving the pet registration system, establishing effective systems for preventing and managing abandoned animals, strengthening measures against animal cruelty and penalties, and enhancing supervision of businesses related to companion animals.

1-2. Raising Farm Animal Welfare Standards and Demands for Ethical Transition in the Industry

In line with international trends, strong demands for respecting animal life and ethical farming practices, moving beyond mere economic value, are emerging in the domestic farm animal sector. Developed nations like the European Union (EU) have already raised welfare standards, recommending improvements to farming environments to alleviate animal suffering, such as prohibiting intensive confinement or introducing cage-free systems. These international movements significantly influence South Korea's livestock industry, making it increasingly necessary to keep pace. Reflecting these era-specific demands, the Animal Welfare Policy Division is focusing on expanding the Animal Welfare Certified Farm program for major livestock types like laying hens, pigs, and cattle, and on developing practical support measures to resolve the on-site difficulties faced by certified farms. Moreover, the spread of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) management indicates that compliance with animal welfare is becoming a crucial factor influencing corporate image and competitiveness in the livestock industry.

2. Core Initiatives and Progress Analysis by the Animal Welfare Policy Division

2-1. Revision of the Animal Protection Act and Strengthening Legal/Institutional Frameworks

The Animal Protection Act is the most fundamental legal and institutional basis for enhancing animal welfare. The Animal Welfare Policy Division continuously pursues amendments to the Animal Protection Act to strengthen penalties for animal abusers and to expand the scope and tighten supervision of animal-related businesses requiring permits. Notably, an amendment to the Animal Protection Act, including provisions for stronger penalties against animal abusers, was passed and implemented in February 2024. This signifies important progress in legally affirming the dignity of animal life and eradicating illegal animal cruelty. The division is also prioritizing the rationalization of animal welfare certification standards for livestock farms, enhancing promotion, and upgrading the pet registration and management system. These legislative efforts are expected to contribute to better protection for animals across all domains—companion animals, farm animals, and experimental animals—and to curb animal cruelty and the occurrence of abandoned/lost animals.

2-2. On-site Support for Animal Welfare and Vitalization of the Certification System

In conjunction with legal and institutional improvements, the Animal Welfare Policy Division is dedicated to establishing practical, on-site support measures. For farms certified under the Animal Welfare Certified Farm program, support is provided beyond the issuance of certification marks, including expanding sales channels and offering consulting and training to aid their economic self-sufficiency. This serves as a crucial incentive to encourage farms to voluntarily improve their animal welfare standards. As of 2023, over 300 farms received certification, with plans to expand this number in 2024. In particular, the phased reduction of cage-based housing for laying hens by 2027 is evaluated as a symbolic move towards improving farm animal welfare. Furthermore, the quality of the abandoned and lost animal protection system is being enhanced through support for improving animal protection center facilities and operational costs, and through training programs to strengthen the capacity of local government animal protection officials. With over 100 municipal shelters and more than 300 contracted shelters operating as of 2023, such support directly contributes to the welfare of animals under protection.

2-3. Public Awareness Campaigns and Education for Animal Protection and Welfare

Public awareness campaigns and educational programs aimed at fostering a mature companion animal culture and cultivating respect for animal life are also key responsibilities of the Animal Welfare Policy Division. Events celebrating 'Animal Protection Day' and awards for distinguished individuals encourage those dedicated to animal protection, while the development and dissemination of life-respecting educational content for children and youth support the formation of proper values in future generations. Additionally, through multifaceted efforts such as spreading messages to prevent animal cruelty via social media and public service announcements, and operating and enhancing accessibility to a website providing information on animal welfare, the division contributes to elevating societal awareness of animal welfare. These awareness-raising initiatives are essential for maximizing the effectiveness of animal welfare policies and building consensus among all citizens regarding animal welfare.

3. Future Policy Directions and Development Challenges

3-1. Addressing Policy Gaps and Establishing an Integrated Management System

Moving forward, the MAFRA Animal Welfare Policy Division is expected to focus on establishing a comprehensive policy roadmap that encompasses animal welfare issues across various domains, including companion animals, farm animals, wildlife, and experimental animals. Urgent tasks remain in identifying the current status and developing policy responses for specific areas where institutional protection is currently insufficient, such as insect farming, small-scale farms, and zoo animals. Furthermore, it is necessary to strengthen cooperative systems between central and local governments for the efficient execution of scattered tasks like animal protection, welfare, abuse prevention, registration, and management, and to seek ways to enhance policy effectiveness through the accumulation and analysis of related data. Prompt response to new societal demands, such as reinforcing the management of dangerous breeds and mandating education to raise awareness of animal dignity, will also become increasingly important.

3-2. Spreading a Collaborative Animal Welfare Culture with the Industry

Animal welfare policies must not merely involve strengthening regulations but should also build sustainable development models through collaboration with the industry. Beyond expanding the Animal Welfare Certified Farm program, proactive measures must be taken to enhance the market competitiveness of animal welfare-certified products and to boost consumer trust. This supports the economic self-sufficiency of certified farms and ultimately offers consumers better choices, creating a virtuous cycle. In the companion animal industry, education and support must be provided concurrently to establish a culture of legal and ethical breeding and sales, and institutional safeguards must be further strengthened to prevent indiscriminate breeding and abandonment. Discussions on nurturing specialized personnel and introducing certification systems, such as for 'Companion Animal Behavior Coaches,' are expected to contribute to enhancing the professionalism and ethics of the industry. Creating a positive ecosystem where the promotion of animal welfare leads to economic and social value creation remains a significant future task for the Animal Welfare Policy Division.