The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety on April 25 released a legislative notice that included a partial amendment to the enforcement regulations of the Food Sanitation Act to allow people to bring their pets into restaurants. Shown is food that people and their pets can eat together at the Seoul Pet Show in September 2023 at the Seoul Trade Exhibition and Convention, aka SETEC, in Seoul's Gangnam-gu District. (Yonhap News)

By Margareth Theresia

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety on April 25 announced a partial amendment to the enforcement regulations of the Food Sanitation Act allowing people to enter restaurants with their pets.

The gist of this revision is to set standards for sanitation and safety management for companion animals to enter such establishments.

The new rules allow only cats and dogs to enter restaurants with their owners as both animals are the most common pets in the country with high vaccination rates.

New specific standards for sanitation management were also set for restaurant operators. For example, an establishment must have physical barriers like partitions or fences to prevent pets from entering places where food is handled like kitchens or storage rooms, and hand sanitizer must be kept by entrances and exits.

A sign at a restaurant must be posted at the entrance to clearly inform visitors that the establishment allows pets.

Restaurant owners must also confirm whether the pets have been fully vaccinated and ban entry to those who have not. Stronger rules for sanitation management seek to prevent cross contamination and prevent food safety incidents.

More on the amendment and method for submitting opinions is available on the public platform to voice opinions on legislation (http://opinion.lawmaking.go.kr) and the ministry's website (www.mfds.go.kr).

The ministry said, "The amendment will guarantee convenience and restaurant options in daily life for those with pets and aid the relevant industry's development."

margareth@korea.kr