In a significant move for public health and animal welfare, the capital of Indonesia has officially outlawed the trade and consumption of meat from dogs, cats, and bats.
A Step Towards Rabies Prevention
Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung confirmed the new regulation on Tuesday, November 25, 2025. The ban is designed as a direct measure to curb the transmission of rabies within the city. Governor Anung announced the decision on social media, stating, "I have signed the regulation… which prohibits the sale of rabies-transmitting animals for food purposes." This action fulfills a promise he made just one month prior.
Details of the New Regulation
The governor signed the official document on Monday, November 24. According to the regulation, a six-month grace period will be in effect before the ban is fully enforced, giving businesses and vendors time to adapt. The prohibition is comprehensive, covering "live animals, meat, or other products, either raw or processed." It also bans any activities related to these animals if they are intended for food.
Authorities have outlined a range of sanctions for those who violate the ban after the grace period ends. Penalties will escalate from written warnings all the way to the revocation of business licenses.
Reactions and Public Health Impact
The ban has been celebrated by animal rights groups as a major victory. The coalition Dog Meat Free Indonesia released a statement praising the policy, saying it "aligns with the mandate of the constitution to protect all Indonesian people and to become a just and civilised nation."
The public health motivation behind the ban is clear. The World Health Organization reports that several dozen Indonesians die from rabies each year. More recently, Indonesia's own health ministry recorded 25 rabies deaths between January and March of 2025. While the dog meat trade is not widespread across the Muslim-majority nation, it persists in some communities as a source of affordable protein. Jakarta now joins a growing number of Indonesian cities that have implemented local bans on this practice in recent years.
