Brazil's Meat Giants in Hot Water Over Amazon Deforestation

Agency Investigates 12 Plants for Alleged Involvement in Illegal Cattle Scheme

The Brazilian environment agency Ibama is intensifying its crackdown on meatpacking companies, including JBS SA, for allegedly purchasing cattle from farms involved in illegal Amazon deforestation.

Key Developments

• 12 Plants Under Investigation: Ibama is probing 12 meatpacking facilities suspected of participating in a scheme to obscure the illegal origins of cattle.
• Fines and Seizures:
• 6 Companies Fined: A total of 4 million reais for direct purchases from blocked deforestation areas.
• 7,000 Cattle Seized: Confiscated from farms flagged for illegal activities.
• Total Fines: 49 million reais issued, though recipients remain unspecified.

Company Responses

• JBS SA: No response yet to the allegations.
• Frigol: Denies wrongdoing, claims Ibama made an error.
• Mercurio: Asserts compliance with regulations, uses third-party audits to verify cattle origins.

Broader Implications

This crackdown underscores the persistent challenge of protecting the Amazon rainforest from illegal deforestation and the corporate accountability tied to environmental destruction.