Traceability is now a Mandatory Commercial Requirement

Publicado em 02/01/2025

The Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (MAPA) announced the National Plan for the Individual Cattle & Buffaloes Identification

The entire Production Chain needs to participate 

Published on December 18^th 2024
*Prof.José Luiz Tejon for Radio Eldorado/ Estadão-Brasil

The Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (MAPA) announced the National Plan for the Individual Cattle & Buffaloes Identification, which was originated by the 2011 decree, Nº 7.623, which regulates Law 12,097/ November 24th 2009.

This refers to a longstanding topic in discussions regarding an important animal traceability program set to be implemented over the next seven years. This program will require mandatory adherence to specific procedures and investments in systems and controls, tracking animals from birth to slaughterhouse.

If you need any further context or details about the program, feel free to ask!

It’s evident that this crucial mission cannot fall solely on rural producers, who are the most vulnerable participants in the agribusiness system and receive the smallest share of the total profits. However, before this becomes law, large corporations have already established their sustainability programs. For example, JBS, the world’s largest animal protein company, has decided that starting in 2027, it will no longer accept animals that do not meet traceability standards—from breeding and calves to the slaughterhouse.

And, to support rural producers, JBS provides an online Support Office for livestock farmers called “Virtual Green Office”, an exemplary initiative.

It refers to a hub that provides comprehensive, free assistance to creators of all sizes, covering legal, environmental, and social aspects.

This requirement for traceability since creation, in other words, also has impacts on aspects of illegality in deforestation where criminals devastate areas, most of which are vacant areas that belong to the State. These mentioned criminals invade and end up settling on the poorest and most suffering side of the production chain, the one that works in breeding and is the sources of calves for raising and fattening.

Therefore, the decision made by Mapa aligns with the compliance requirements of the new global trade in food, fibers, and energy, where proving the origin and sustainability of products will be essential. While Brazil boasts the world's largest commercial herd, its consumption levels remain significantly lower than those of the United States.This means that national livestock farming, which has emerged as the world’s largest exporter, will also see significant advancements in technology over the next seven years. The same commercial requirements currently applied to sectors like cotton, cellulose, coffee, poultry, soybeans, corn, rice, beans, fruits, vegetables, sugar, and cocoa will undoubtedly extend to the Brasilian biofuels sector as well.

Therefore, Ministry decision, after long minutely negotiations with rural producers, slaughterhouses, and service providers, was nothing more than creating a law where Brazilian commerce already anticipated legislation.

As Brazil produces and exports to regulated, competitive and demanding markets, there is no other way than to set properly an implemented animal traceability to prove the origin of our goods. As we commented here a few weeks ago, mentioning the excellent event held by Cecafé, the Coffee Exporters Council in Switzerland, alongside the evidence provided by Serasa Agro, it highlights all origins and legal origins, within the Socio-Environmental compliance required by worldwide customers.
This  issue will also lead us to the officialization of the CAR (Rural Environmental Registry), already carried out by the vast majority of Brazilian but still lacking the recognised and validated “stamp” of  OK.

In other words, to be "Agrolímpics" it isn't enough to want and say it! Technological and administrative investments will be necessary so that we have "Olympic Squares and Stadium in Brazilian Agriculture field.
And this cannot be attributed exclusively to the pockets of rural producers, that is, the entire Production Chain must actively participate, in addition to the Government.

But it’s not enough to produce! It will be necessary to prove the legality of the origination and this involves Traceability.
This may usher in a new era of digital management for all national livestock, as we no longer manage entire herds collectively but rather monitor cattle under an individual basis, adhering to stringent animal welfare standards.

*José Luiz Tejon - PhD in Education-Universidad de La Empresa/Uruguay. Master's degree in Art Education and History of Culture - Mackenzie University. Journalist and Publicist - Harvard, MIT and PACE/USA / Insead in France Specialisation Academic Coordinator of Master Science Food & Agribusiness Management at Audencia in Nantes/France and FECAP/Brazil. Managing Partner at Biomarketing and TCA International. Professional Head at Agro Anefac. Writer author and Co-author of 37 books. Agro Personality Award 2023. ABAG. Former director of Grupo Estadão, Agroceres and Jacto S/A.