South Korea passes bill banning production and sale of dog meat

Members of animal activist groups hold up banners at the national assembly in Seoul to mark the passage of the law banning the production and sale of dog meat. Photograph: Jeon Heon-Kyun/EPA

South Korea’s parliament has voted to ban the production and sale of dog meat, in a decision campaigners hailed as a “historic victory” for animal welfare.

The country’s national assembly voted overwhelmingly to ban the breeding, butchery, distribution and sale of dogs for their meat on Tuesday, after years of pressure at home and abroad.