South Korea has voted for a new law to end the centuries-old practice of slaughtering and selling of dog meat by 2027. 

The parliament endorsed the bill by 208 votes to zero on Tuesday, stating that those butchering dogs could face up to three years in prison while those who raised dogs for meat or sell dog meat could serve a maximum of two years.

However, the consumption of dog meat itself will not be illegal. 

But dog farmers and butchers said they planned a protest and appeal against the ban as dog meat has fallen out of favour with diners over the past few decades. 

But the government has promised to fully support dog meat farmers and butchers whose businesses would be forced to close by the decision. 

Eating dog meat is a centuries-old practice in South Korea but surveys indicate that it’s now a rarity-mostly undertaken by some older people. 

The practice used to be viewed as a way to improve stamina in the country’s humid summer. 

Already, the Korean Association of Edible Dogs, a group made up of breeders and sells, said the ban would affect 3,500 farms raising 1.5 million dogs as well as 3000 restaurants. 

Even though similar anti-dog meat laws have failed in the past because of protests and concerns about the livelihoods of farmers and restaurant owners.

The support for the ban grew under President Yook Suk Yeol, who loves animals and has adopted six dogs and eight cats. 

In 2022, the country’s Ministry of Agriculture estimated that around 1,100 farms were breeding 570,000 dogs to be served at some 1,600 restaurants.