By Ana Mano
BRASÍLIA (Reuters) -A powerful association of Chinese beef importers has committed to buying deforestation-free Brazilian beef under a new certification protocol developed by Brazilian NGO Institute for Forest and Agricultural Management and Certification (Imaflora).
The move, announced on Tuesday by Imaflora, strengthens Brazilian ties with its top trade partner China, which is reducing purchases from competitors like the United States. Last year, China imported almost $6 billion worth of Brazilian beef products, accounting for half the export volume of companies including JBS, MBRF and Minerva.
Imaflora, which launched a new certification called Beef on Track (BoT) during an event in Brasília, said members of China’s Tianjin Meat Association will purchase at least 50,000 tons of beef bearing the BoT certification by June 2026, the equivalent of 2,500 20-ton containers.
That 100-member association accounts for 15% of all Chinese beef imports from Brazil, Imaflora said.
Xing Yanling, the association’s president, said its Chinese importers “are proud” to support adoption of the new protocol.
“By working together, China and Brazil can advance a greener, more sustainable beef trade, benefiting both our industries and the environment,” she said in prepared remarks shared at the event.
Livia Zhao, a representative of the China Meat Association, whose members include major state-owned and privately owned meat companies, said protocols for cleaner supply chains have been under discussion as beef consumption continues to rise in China.
She said Chinese restaurants have been promoting Brazilian beef, praised the quality of imports from Brazil and noted that the Chinese beef market has “a deficit” despite China buying large volumes from Latin America and Australia.
COFCO’s international business manager Amy Xu said the Chinese government is investing to boost domestic beef and livestock production to raise internal beef offerings, adding that the company supports “deforestation and conversion free beef.”
Carlos Agustin, special aide to Brazil’s Agriculture Ministry, said during the event that China’s concern for environmental issues “is visible,” adding initiatives to protect the environment “deserve applause.”
(Reporting by Ana Mano; Editing by Franklin Paul and Richard Chang)
