This document is MAFRA Notification No. 2025-20 (농림축산식품부고시 제2025-20호), titled Import Health Requirements for Pet Food (반려동물 사료 수입위생조건), effective 2026-02-07. It is issued under the authority of Article 34.2 of the Act on the Prevention of Contagious Animal Diseases (가축전염병 예방법). It supersedes any other notification covering the same commodities.
Article 1 — Purpose
Korean: 제1조(목적) 이 고시는 「가축전염병 예방법」 제34조 제2항의 규정에 따라 대한민국으로 수입되는 반려동물 사료에 대한 동물성 원료의 조건, 생산조건, 제조시설, 수출국 검역내용 등에 관한 사항을 규정함을 목적으로 한다.
English: The purpose of this Notification is to stipulate requirements for animal ingredients, production conditions, manufacturing facilities and quarantine inspection of the exporting country for pet food imported to the Republic of Korea in accordance with Article 34.2 of the Act on the Prevention of Contagious Animal Diseases.
Article 2 — Definitions
Key definitions include:
- Pet food (반려동물 사료): Single-compound feed, assorted feed and supplementary feed under Article 2 of the Control of Livestock and Fish Feed Act (사료관리법) that contain animal ingredients intended for consumption of pets for nutrition, health or growth, and means finished product requiring no further processing.
- Government of the exporting country (수출국 정부): The competent authority responsible for animal quarantine of the exporting country.
- Veterinary officer of the exporting country (수출국 정부 수의관): The veterinary officer of the government of the exporting country in charge of animal quarantine.
- Ante-mortem inspection (생체검사): Clinical examination carried out on live animals to be slaughtered by veterinary officers of the ingredient producing country at slaughterhouses, etc. to identify any concerns of risks imposed to human or animal health.
Article 3 — Scope
Korean: 제3조(적용 범위) 이 고시는 「동물보호법 시행규칙」 제3조에 따라 반려동물 중 개, 고양이, 페럿, 햄스터의 사료로 「가축전염병 예방법」 제31조 및 같은 법 시행규칙 제31조에 따른 동물성 원료 성분이 함유된 사料에 대하여 적용한다.
English: This Notification applies to pet food for dogs, cats, ferrets, and hamsters containing animal ingredients pursuant to Article 31 of the Act on the Prevention of Contagious Animal Diseases and Article 31 of its Enforcement Rules.
Exemptions (shall NOT apply to):
- Pickled pelts after depilation
- UHT pasteurized dairy products
- Sterilized egg products
- Fats added only as flavoring agents
- Dairy-only pet food imported by consignment/personal belongings/mail
Source: MAFRA Notification No. 2025-20 (농림축산식품부고시 제2025-20호), effective 2026-02-07. Non-official translation note: "This is non-official translation. Korean version takes precedence."