Brazil Slaps $64M in Fines on Meat Processors in Amazon Deforestation Crackdown
Brazil’s environmental agency, Ibama, has taken significant action against illegal deforestation in the Amazon, imposing fines totaling $64 million on 23 meat-packing companies and suppliers for purchasing cattle raised on protected land.
Known as Cold Meat 2, this operation identified around 18,000 head of cattle raised across roughly 100 square miles of illegal pasture. The agency seized 8,854 cattle during the raid, marking one of the largest crackdowns to date against deforestation-linked cattle ranching.
Cattle ranching continues to drive Amazon deforestation, with an estimated 90% of land cleared between 1985 and 2023 converted to pasture, as monitored by MapBiomas, a network of NGOs tracking Brazil’s land use.
Their findings reveal that 14% of the Amazon has been converted into grazing land—an area larger than France.
“We are inspecting the production chain to hold offenders accountable for acquiring products from deforestation and to ensure that crime does not pay,” said Jair Schmitt, Ibama’s chief of environmental protection, emphasizing the commitment to curb deforestation and protect the Amazon’s ecosystem.
One of the companies hit hardest by Ibama’s operation is JBS, the world’s largest meat-packing company, which was fined $108,000 for allegedly purchasing 1,231 head of cattle raised illegally on restricted land.
JBS, which has been linked to previous cases of illegal deforestation, faces increased scrutiny as it pursues a listing on the New York Stock Exchange.
“JBS has maintained its Responsible Procurement Policy for 15 years and has a geospatial monitoring system in place to ensure that the company does not purchase animals from farms involved in illegal deforestation, encroachment on Indigenous lands, or conservation areas that are under embargo by Ibama,” read a company statement.
However, JBS declined to comment on another ongoing case in Jaci-Parana, where it faces lawsuits related to deforestation practices.
Agropam, a smaller meat processor, received the highest fine of $493,000 for purchasing 5,624 head of cattle from illegal areas.
The company did not respond to requests for comment. Other firms fined include Mafrico and Frigol, which denied any wrongdoing and asserted compliance with independent audits since 2021.
The recent actions are part of Ibama’s broader effort to address Brazil’s deforestation crisis. With cattle ranching linked to nearly all cleared land in the Amazon, Cold Meat 2 marks a serious attempt to disrupt the deforestation supply chain and hold accountable those fueling illegal practices.
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