EN 
PT_BR 
A survey by Radar Verde indicates that new European Union requirements should increase the need for traceability in the supply chains of beef exported by Brazil. The analysis, which evaluated meat processing plants in the Legal Amazon authorized to export to that market, points to limitations in the capacity to demonstrate, with public evidence, socio-environmental control throughout the chain, especially with regard to indirect suppliers.
The study evaluated 15 meat processing plants belonging to eight companies, all located in Mato Grosso and authorized to export to the European market in 2025. Together, these units have a slaughtering capacity of 11,250 animals per day. According to the analysis, 13 units show a low level of control and two show very low control of the supply chain, according to the criteria of the Green Radar program.
The study indicates that, within the potential cattle purchasing zones of these plants, exposure to areas at risk of new deforestation ranges from 31,000 to 2.8 million hectares. The research also identified that 12 meat processing plants demonstrate a high level of control over direct suppliers, which are the farms that sell animals directly to the industries.
However, no company presented robust evidence, such as independent audits, of monitoring indirect suppliers, which are the farms where the cattle are born or raised before the final fattening phase.
According to the analysis, this loophole could allow animals to circulate through intermediary properties before being sold to meat processing plants, which hinders complete traceability of the production's origin.
The report also analyzes Brazilian initiatives aimed at traceability in the meat supply chain, including public platforms and national animal identification programs. According to the study, although there has been institutional progress, none of these initiatives currently offers a complete and immediate solution to meet the requirements of European regulations, especially in the monitoring of indirect suppliers.
European regulations will require full traceability.
The European Union is adopting new rules to prevent products linked to deforestation from entering its market. The so-called European Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) will require companies to prove, with data and geolocation, that commodities such as beef were not produced in deforested areas.
The regulation is expected to come into effect on December 30, 2026 for large companies and on June 30, 2027 for small and micro-enterprises, requiring traceability systems capable of identifying all properties through which the cattle passed along the production chain.
Although it represents a smaller share of Brazilian beef exports, the European Union has been gaining importance as a trading destination. In 2025, the bloc imported 128,900 tons of Brazilian beef, generating approximately US$1.06 billion and registering growth of 132.8% compared to 2024.
In this context, the report highlights that access to the European market tends to depend increasingly on companies' ability to demonstrate, with verifiable evidence, deforestation-free supply chains.
Recommendations from the analysis
The study points to ways to advance the traceability of the beef supply chain, focusing on the integration of existing databases, such as livestock movement records (GTA), rural property registrations (CAR), and information on deforestation and embargoed areas.
According to the analysis, this integration can increase visibility into the movement of cattle throughout the supply chain and help meet the demands of the international market.
The full analysis is available on the Radar Verde website, at Green Radar – Analysis of beef exports to the European Union.
