Mandatory Installation of CCTV to Monitor Animals During Grooming

Enforcement Rules of the Animal Protection Act Amended and Promulgated... Strengthened Compliance Requirements for Business Operators

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] One year from now, pet grooming businesses will be required to install video information processing devices such as closed-circuit television (CCTV) to monitor the condition of animals during grooming.

On the 16th, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced that it will promulgate the revised "Animal Protection Act Enforcement Rules" on the 17th, strengthening related business standards to enhance the welfare of companion animals.

For animal production businesses, the area and height of breeding facilities will change from recommended to mandatory requirements, and existing producers (before March 22, 2018) must secure resting space by placing flat panels on at least 50% of the floor area of breeding facilities called "tteunjang." The enforcement date is one year later.

Additionally, starting two years from now, the number of management personnel must be secured at a ratio of at least one person per 50 dogs or cats (aged 12 months or older), improved from the previous one person per 75 animals.

From three years later, the interval between an animal's births will be extended from 8 months to 10 months.

Pet grooming businesses must install CCTV to monitor the condition of animals being groomed. The enforcement date is one year later, and this also applies to grooming services conducted using vehicles.

Animal transporters must install nets or partitions in transport vehicles to separate the space for humans from the space for animals, and to minimize animal movement, individual carriers (cages) or safety belts must be installed.

Transport personnel are required to have at least two years of driving experience, and like pet grooming businesses, must install CCTV to monitor the condition of animals during transport.

The enforcement date for these revised provisions is one year from now.

In addition, to prevent animal diseases, vehicles must be disinfected before and after transport, and the disinfection dates must be recorded.

Animal sellers are prohibited from selling animals without showing them in person, and transactions through auctions must take place at the auction site on the auction day.

Furthermore, animal exhibition businesses, animal consignment management businesses, pet grooming businesses, and animal transport businesses must inform owners about registration methods if the animals they exhibit, manage, groom, or transport are subject to registration.

Penalties for violations of compliance will be strengthened: business suspension periods will change from 7 days for the first offense, 15 days for the second, and one month for the third or more, to 15 days for the first offense, one month for the second, and three months for the third or more.

A Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs official stated, "To enhance the welfare of companion animals, it is necessary to continuously improve facilities and equipment at the frontline of related businesses and thoroughly implement compliance measures," and emphasized, "Companion animal-related business operators should responsibly supplement the applicable matters in their operations."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.