By Kim Rahn
Staff Reporter
An Internet site has recently rekindled a long-pending controversy regarding dog meat as it sold dog meat through the same online channels as beef or pork.
The Web site closed Tuesday, three months after its opening, because animal protection groups and dog lovers strongly protested against it. However, the closure was not due to violation of the law, as there is no specific ruling that applies to dog meat.
According to both the Law on Livestock Industry and the Law on Prevention of Livestock Epidemic, dogs are categorized into the same group as donkeys, rabbits, horses and deer.
However, when subjugated according the Law on Stock Butchery and Stock Products Process, dogs are not categorically considered livestock. This discrepancy is the main reason that although mass breeding and butchering of dogs is conducted, the authorities cannot regulate sanitation of the process.
The only laws that can be applied are the Law on Animal Protection if dog meat providers butcher dogs in a brutal way and the Law on Pollution if the butchery process pollutes the environment.
Then, is dog meat properly regulated as ``food''? One would assume so judging by such legislation.
According to the Korea Food and Drug Administration, dog meat is categorized as a natural product because it is not included in livestock. It means that unlike ordinary stock products such as beef or chicken, dog meat does not undergo sanitation examination.
Also, there is no clear law that stipulates dog meat production and sale are illegal. The Law on Food Sanitation says it is illegal to cook or sell ``disgusting foods'' that health and welfare minister or local authority heads designate. But the government has not designated dog meat as disgusting food.
In such a situation, the authorities could not say whether the online dog meat sales were legal or illegal. The issue has remained undecided as the government and the National Assembly are pressed by both animal protection groups and dog meat consumers.
In 2001, 20 lawmakers proposed a bill to revise the Law on Stock Product Process, aimed at setting up proper regulations on dog meat. But the plan was scrapped due to strong criticism from animal rights groups inside and outside of the country.
``From the point of sanitation, it is desirable to legalize dog meat. And it is not easy to stipulate the popular food as illegal. But we also should consider the international image of Korea and protest from animal protection groups if we legalize dog meat,'' a health and welfare ministry official said.