Hygiene and Safety Challenges in the Rise of Pet-Friendly Restaurants

With 15 million pets in Korea, the number of restaurants that allow pets is on the rise. However, a survey by the Korean Consumer Affairs Ministry found that many of these restaurants have serious problems with their hygiene and safety management systems.

The findings: Lack of hygiene and safety management

The survey of 19 restaurants in the Seoul metropolitan area found that 16 of them had open kitchens, allowing pets to come and go as they pleased; seven had inadequate ventilation, allowing hair and dust to accumulate; none of them used covers to protect food; and many did not control the movement of pets or provide customers with instructions on what to do, raising concerns about safety accidents.

The government's response: Guidelines and regulatory sandbox

In 2023, the government released the “Operational Guideline on Pet Access to Food Service Establishments” and launched a regulatory sandbox pilot project. The guideline includes compliance requirements such as restricting access to the kitchen, providing special chairs, and regular ventilation, and 213 restaurants have completed the review.

Need for policy improvements

The surveyed restaurants are not participating in the regulatory sandbox and are operating on a voluntary basis, which requires further policy improvements to address health and safety issues. Consumer affairs officials emphasized the need for measures to encourage these establishments to voluntarily comply with standards.

Looking to the future: Legal foundation laid

The government plans to notify legislation to amend the Food Hygiene Act in the first half of this year to create a clear legal basis for allowing pets in restaurants, which is expected to make the pet culture safer and more comfortable.

Hygiene and Safety Issues in Restaurants with Pets and the Need for Improvement

While the number of restaurants that allow pets is increasing, it has been pointed out that hygiene and safety management is lacking. Many of the 19 restaurants in the Seoul metropolitan area surveyed by the Korea Consumer Service had hygiene problems such as open cooking areas, lack of ventilation, and poor hair and dust management, and did not properly control the movement of pets or inform customers of the rules. The current Food Sanitation Act prohibits pets from entering restaurants, but the government is developing guidelines through a regulatory sandbox pilot project. These include restricting access to the kitchen, providing special chairs, and installing food covers. However, many casual restaurants do not meet these standards, and there are many calls for improved policies.

FAQs: Questions about pet-friendly restaurants

1. What are the standards for pet-friendly restaurants?

According to the government's guidelines, restaurants must meet health and safety standards, such as restricting access to the kitchen, having special chairs, and regular ventilation.

2. Is it currently legal to allow pets in restaurants?

It is prohibited in principle under the current Food Hygiene Act, but it is allowed in some restaurants through the Regulatory Sandbox Pilot Project.

3. What are the main problems of the surveyed restaurants?

Hygiene problems due to open cooking areas, lack of hair and dust management, and lack of movement control were pointed out.

4. What is a regulatory sandbox?

It is a system that temporarily relaxes regulations under certain conditions to test and verify new services and products.

5. What changes are expected in the future?

The government plans to strengthen related regulations by notifying legislative amendments to the Food Hygiene Act in the first half of this year.

#pet restaurants #hygiene management #safe eating culture #regulatory sandbox #coexistence society

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