The National Assembly of South Korea adopted a bill banning the trade and consumption of dog meat in that country.
The bill on banning the breeding, slaughtering, distribution and sale of dogs for meat was accepted with 208 votes in favor and two abstentions, the South Korean news agency Yonhap announced.
If the bill becomes law, it is scheduled to take effect in 2027, and those who violate the law could be sentenced to a maximum of two years in prison or a fine of approximately $23,000.
The bill also includes giving subsidies to people working in the dog meat industry to switch jobs.
South Korea has about 1,150 dog farms, 34 butchers, 219 distributors and about 1,600 restaurants that sell food made from dog meat, according to government data.
In a survey conducted in South Korea, more than 90 percent of respondents said they would not consider eating dog meat.
