China-Brazil Beef Deal for Zero-Deforestation Beef

The Chinese beef market has taken a significant step with a new agreement to import beef from Brazil, which is certified as free from illegal deforestation. This certification, known as Beef on Track, is the first of its kind for Brazilian beef, according to Imaflora, the group behind the initiative. China, Brazil’s largest trading partner and the biggest buyer of its beef, has shown interest in ensuring that imports comply with sustainable practices.

The certification process evaluates Brazil’s beef supply based on four tiers. It checks for compliance regarding illegal deforestation, activity in protected or Indigenous territories, and ensures no slave-like labor is involved. In 2025, Brazilian beef exports to China were significant, with over half of exports amounting to 3.1 million tons, valued at $8.8 billion, directed to the Chinese market. The Tianjin Meat Association, following this new certification protocol, has pledged to buy at least 50,000 tons of certified beef. From now, audits on these imports will involve a Chinese certification company.

Marina Guyot from Imaflora emphasized the dual nature of this certification. While initially niche, it has the potential to scale, reducing the environmental impact of cattle ranching. She stated, “The idea is to create an incentive. A positive tool beyond enforcement and a market mechanism that can recognize the efforts already being made by some producers and expand them as it brings commercial advantages.” Brazil, responsible for 20% of global beef production, has faced challenges with pasture expansion leading to deforestation, especially in the Amazon.

The Amazon rainforest, crucial for global climate regulation, saw decreased deforestation after the peaks of the 1990s and 2000s. However, there was a rise during former President Jair Bolsonaro’s term. Current President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva aims to halt deforestation by 2030, having bolstered enforcement measures, effectively reducing forest loss by half over the recent four years.

The 2009 agreement between Brazilian authorities and major meatpackers marked a turning point, holding companies accountable for their supply chains with links to deforestation. By 2023, efforts expanded with a national certification system, leveraging public databases for better environmental and social impact tracking. Beef on Track adds to these efforts to ensure sustainable practices.

Raoni Rajão, who led deforestation control in Brazil, advocates for import verification as a method to cut illegal activities. He compared this to Paraguay’s success in curbing car thefts through import checks, questioning why this approach isn’t used for deforestation. The Brazilian Beef Exporters Association is closely watching certification initiatives, encouraging alignment with existing systems to prevent implementation issues.

International market demands push for sustainability in Brazil’s cattle industry. Despite new certification labels, the association stresses the need for harmony with current practices to avoid production challenges.