Jakarta to Ban Dog and Cat Meat Trade Within One Month

Jakarta to Ban Dog and Cat Meat Trade Within One Month

Added on Monday, 20 October 2025
In a landmark move for animal welfare and public health, the Governor of Jakarta, Pramono Anung, has announced that the Jakarta Provincial Government will issue a Governor Regulation (PERGUB) within one month to ban the trade of dog and cat meat.

Landmark decision marks historic progress for animal welfare and public health in Indonesia’s capital

Jakarta, Indonesia – October 13, 2025 – The commitment was made during a meeting today with the Dog Meat Free Indonesia (DMFI) Coalition at City Hall. The Governor also confirmed that the administration will follow up with a Regional Regulation (PERDA) to further strengthen enforcement.

“I have received the proposal from the DMFI Coalition to establish a regulation prohibiting the trade of dog and cat meat in Jakarta,” Governor Pramono Anung said. “As a global city, Jakarta should not accommodate such practices. I have instructed City Hall to prepare the Governor Regulation within one month, and we will propose the Regional Regulation to the DPRD.”

 

Jakarta to Ban Dog and Cat Meat Trade Within One Month

The meeting was facilitated by Charles Honoris, Deputy Chairman of Commission IX of the House of Representatives (DPR RI), who highlighted the serious public health risks associated with the dog meat trade, including rabies transmission.

The DMFI Coalition praised the Governor’s decisive action, calling it a historic step toward maintaining Jakarta’s rabies-free status and upholding national and international animal welfare standards.

“This commitment from the Governor marks a turning point in Indonesia’s efforts to end the dog and cat meat trade,” said Karin Franken, National Director of DMFI. “We are deeply grateful for his leadership and vision. This decision not only protects animals from horrific cruelty but also safeguards the health and reputation of the capital city.”

“The significance of this commitment cannot be overstated,” added Lola Webber, International Director of DMFI. “This is not just a victory for animals – it’s a victory for public health. Jakarta’s leadership sends a powerful message to the world, and we urge other provinces to follow suit and take concrete steps to end this dangerous and inhumane trade once and for all.”

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Momentum for National Reform

Jakarta’s forthcoming ban follows significant national progress toward stronger animal protection laws. On 23rd September 2025, the DPR plenary session announced that 67 draft bills had been admitted into the 2026 Priority National Legislation Program (Prolegnas), including the Draft Animal Protection and Welfare Bill supported by DMFI. Crucially, the bill includes an explicit and comprehensive prohibition of the dog and cat meat trade.

In 2023, the Government of DKI Jakarta issued a Directive (Surat Edaran) urging mayors and relevant agencies to take action against the trafficking, sale, and slaughter of dogs for consumption. While this directive clearly signaled the province’s official stance, it carried limited legal authority, relying largely on voluntary compliance and inter-agency cooperation.

In contrast, the Governor’s announcement on 13th October 2025 marks a significant legal advancement. The plan to issue a PERGUB (Governor Regulation) would establish a binding regulatory framework within the provincial government, enabling active enforcement by Satpol PP and other agencies. The subsequent development of a PERDA (Regional Regulation) – also pledged by the Governor – will further elevate this policy into regional law, creating a permanent and enforceable legal foundation for prohibiting the dog meat trade across Jakarta.

Importantly, this move aligns with the DPR’s 2026 legislative priorities, positioning Jakarta as a provincial leader in anticipating and supporting forthcoming national reforms.

DMFI stated that the Jakarta ban – together with growing national legislative momentum – represents a decisive shift toward ending the dog and cat meat trade across Indonesia.

The Dog Meat Trade in Jakarta

Despite Jakarta’s rabies-free status, investigations by DMFI have revealed that several markets in and around the capital continue to sell dog meat. Two major suppliers and several smaller operators collectively slaughter an estimated 340 dogs per day – roughly 9,500 per month.

Approximately 97% of these dogs are transported illegally from West Java, where rabies remains endemic. Many are stolen pets. Dogs are packed tightly into cages and transported long distances without food or water, then slaughtered in unregulated facilities, often beaten to death or burned alive.

DMFI’s investigation shows that the trade not only causes immense animal suffering but also poses a serious threat to public health and violates multiple Indonesian laws.

A Milestone for Jakarta

The forthcoming PERGUB represents a major milestone for Jakarta –  aligning Indonesia’s capital with global animal welfare norms and reinforcing its commitment to public health and safety.

The DMFI Coalition thanked Governor Pramono, the Jakarta administration, and the public for their support, and urged other provinces to take similar action.

ENDS

Legal Context

Indonesia’s existing laws already prohibit key aspects of the dog and cat meat trade:

  • Law No. 18 of 2012 on Food –  Dog meat is not classified as food, making its sale and distribution illegal.
  • Law No. 18 of 2009 / Law No. 41 of 2014 on Livestock and Animal Health –  Prohibits inhumane slaughter and the transport or trade of animals that may spread infectious diseases.
  • Law No. 16 of 1992 on Animal, Fish, and Plant Quarantine (Article 6) –  Requires rabies-carrying animals (including dogs and cats) to have health certificates and pass through designated quarantine points.
  • Government Regulation No. 82 of 2000 on Animal Quarantine and Government Regulation No. 47 of 2014 on Animal Disease Control –  Prohibit the entry of animals without required permits.
  • Government Regulation No. 95 of 2012 on Veterinary Public Health and Animal Welfare (Article 8) –  Mandates humane slaughter methods and veterinary inspection before and after slaughter.

 

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Media Contact

International Enquiries:
Dog Meat Free Indonesia (DMFI) Coalition
Website: www.dogmeatfreeindonesia.org

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In Bobby’s Honour

We found Bobby sitting in a wire cage in a busy dog meat market in North Sulawesi whilst we were conducting investigations in December 2017. He was surrounded by scenes from a horror movie, and the terror in his eyes was haunting. We knew we couldn’t leave him.

It breaks our heart that he left this world too soon, but he left having known love and with a name. And in his name, we will never give up until the dog and cat meat trades end throughout Indonesia.

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Hero’s Story

The Dog Meat Free-Indonesia coalition spent many long and heartbreaking months investigating the inner-workings of the dog meat trade throughout Indonesia. As people who do what we do because we care so passionately about animals, doing investigations never gets any easier. It is soul-destroying and heart-breaking, but essential in documenting the reality of the trade so that we are best-positioned to fight it, and to ultimately realise our goal of ending the dog meat trade.

But we always save those we can…

On one particular day, we had the chance to save a dog who we named 'Hero'.

Change is coming in Indonesia and throughout Asia… Never before has the dog meat trade or the consumption of dog meat been questioned the way it is now. People are turning their backs on a trade and a practice that can no longer hide behind a defense of ‘culture’ or ‘tradition’.