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Indonesian commission again proposes ban on cat and dog meat trade
🇮🇩 Indonesia /Culture & Society

Indonesian commission again proposes ban on cat and dog meat trade

From CNN Indonesia · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified New plan
  • A commission in Indonesia's House of Representatives (DPR) has again proposed a national ban on the trade of cat and dog meat.
  • The proposal aims to curb the spread of rabies, with only Jakarta currently having a ban.
  • Previous attempts to legislate a ban have failed, with the bill removed from national legislative programs.

A commission within Indonesia's House of Representatives (DPR) has reignited calls for a nationwide prohibition on the trade of cat and dog meat. During a recent meeting with the Minister of Health, Budi Gunadi Sadikin, the DPR's Commission IX reiterated its proposal for a national regulation.

Charles Honoris, Deputy Chairman of Commission IX, emphasized the need for a unified approach, noting that currently, only the capital, Jakarta, has implemented such a ban through a gubernatorial regulation. Honoris argued that a national ban is crucial for controlling the spread of rabies transmitted through animal bites. "So, Mr. Health Minister, let's make Indonesia rabies-free, and I am sure it is very possible. And one way, in my opinion, is to also create national regulations prohibiting the trade of dog and cat meat, sir," Charles stated.

So, Mr. Health Minister, let's make Indonesia rabies-free, and I am sure it is very possible. And one way, in my opinion, is to also create national regulations prohibiting the trade of dog and cat meat, sir.

— Charles HonorisDeputy Chairman of Commission IX, Charles Honoris, urged the Minister of Health to support a national ban on cat and dog meat trade to combat rabies.

Honoris pointed to countries like Turkey, which he said has very few rabies cases annually, as a model. He cited statistics indicating that Indonesia still records a high number of rabies deaths, with over 122 fatalities in 2024 alone. He urged the Minister of Health to collaborate with the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Home Affairs to encourage more regions to adopt stricter controls, similar to Istanbul's approach.

Despite the renewed push, legislative efforts to ban the trade have faced setbacks. A proposed bill on the matter was withdrawn from the national legislative agenda in 2024 and is not included in the priority legislative programs for 2026 or the medium-term plans up to 2029. This indicates significant hurdles in enacting a comprehensive national ban.

So I hope Mr. Minister will communicate with the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Home Affairs, so that more regions can emulate Istanbul, Turkey.

— Charles HonorisCharles Honoris suggested inter-ministerial cooperation to encourage more regions to adopt stricter animal control measures.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by CNN Indonesia in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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