1. Reason for Revision
Food service establishments, which serve food prepared on-site to customers, were previously required to restrict animal entry and separate the business premises. However, in response to the recent societal shift in attitudes toward pets, businesses can now operate in a way that allows customers to bring pets, depending on the consumer and business owner's choice. The revision aims to establish guidelines to prevent hygiene-related risks that may arise from this practice. Additionally, the validity period for hygiene ratings at food service businesses will be extended from two years to three years, which will also extend the period during which businesses can receive related support. This revision addresses provisions delegated by the amended Food Sanitation Act (Law No. 20898, revised on April 1, 2025, with enforcement from July 1, 2028) and includes improvements and supplementation of existing operational regulations to address deficiencies in the current system.
2. Main Contents
a. Facility Standards for Pet-Friendly Businesses in Restaurants, General Food Service Establishments, and Bakeries (Appendix 14)
- Current facility standards require the separation of the business premises when animals are allowed entry, thus restricting pet access for customers and others.
- Establishment of facility standards for pet-friendly businesses, including mandatory installation of pet-entry prevention devices at food handling facilities and disinfecting equipment at store entrances.
- Allowing pets in businesses that comply with hygiene standards, responding to the growing pet culture industry.
b. Compliance Requirements for Business Owners in Pet-Friendly Establishments (Appendix 17, Appendix 23)
- Business owners of pet-friendly establishments will be required to adhere to guidelines for ensuring hygiene and safety, including measures to prevent pets from moving around within the business premises.
- Preventing hygiene-related risks that may arise from allowing pets, ensuring food safety.
c. Extension of Hygiene Rating Validity Period and Exemptions for Inspections, Collection, and Entry for Rated Establishments (Article 61-3, Appendix 23)
- Instead of requiring business owners to apply for an extension, the system will allow administrative agencies to extend the hygiene rating validity period by conducting evaluations before the expiration, thus improving convenience for businesses with hygiene ratings.
- In line with the revision of the Food Sanitation Act (Law No. 20898, effective April 1, 2025), the exemption period for inspections, entry, and collection for businesses with hygiene ratings will also be extended from two years to three years.
- Partial reductions in administrative penalties for food service businesses with hygiene ratings
3. Background of the Initiative
a. Food service businesses, which involve the manufacturing, preparation, and sale of food at the premises, are currently required to separate areas where animals are allowed entry, display, or breeding in accordance with facility standards.
b. Despite the thriving pet-friendly cafes, the lack of relevant laws and systems has been identified as an obstacle to the growth of the pet industry. In response to societal shifts in attitudes, regulations are being introduced to allow pet-friendly businesses where consumers and business owners can choose to permit pets, such as dogs and cats, to enter the premises.
- "Even if the pet cafe owner OKs it, pets accompanying customers are still subject to inspection" (Kyunghyang Shinmun, January 24, 2022)
* To address this, a pilot program for pet-friendly restaurants (limited to dogs and cats) will be operated under the regulatory sandbox framework to establish the minimum regulations necessary for the revision.
- Pilot program for pet-friendly restaurants allowed under regulatory exception based on Article 10-3 of the Industrial Convergence Promotion Act (April 2023 – April 2025)
* Therefore, the initiative aims to improve facility standards to allow pets (dogs and cats only) in food service establishments, as well as establish compliance requirements for business owners and administrative penalty guidelines to minimize potential hygiene risks.
