Chinese Importers Commit to Deforestation-Free Brazilian Beef to Safeguard the Amazon

The Tianjin Meat Industry Association, representing importers responsible for roughly 40 % of China’s Brazilian beef purchases, pledged to import 50,000 metric tons of deforestation-free certified beef by the end of 2026. This volume is about 4.5 % of China’s expected Brazilian beef imports this year.

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China’s 2019 forest-law amendment banned illegal timber trade, and a 2023 joint pledge with Brazil targeted illegal deforestation linked to commerce. State-owned COFCO pledged to eliminate deforestation from its supply chain. Chinese authorities emphasized protecting domestic livestock while addressing import-related environmental impacts; Brazil has not responded.

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Key participants include Xing Yanling, chair of the Tianjin association; Andre Vasconcelos of Trase; rancher Altair Burlamaqui, host of the Tianjin delegation; Brazil’s beef export association ABIEC; nonprofit Imaflora, which designed the “Beef on Track” label; and Imaflora policy manager Marina Guyot.

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China purchases over 10 % of Brazil’s beef. The Tianjin pledge adds a premium segment willing to pay roughly 10 % more for traceable, deforestation-free beef. China’s 2026 import quota of 1.1 million tons triggers a 55 % tariff on excess volume. The “Beef on Track” label, offering four compliance levels, will be available to meatpackers, supermarkets and importers, but Brazil’s traceability system—based on cattle transport documents—has been criticized for susceptibility to “cattle laundering.” No Brazilian meatpackers have announced adoption.

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ABIEC warned that new labeling could create barriers for producers and urged alignment with existing certification systems, noting that additional requirements might impede market access. No Brazilian meatpackers have adopted the certification, highlighting a gap between design and uptake.

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• “It’s not just ‘cheap is good,’” — Xing Yanling, Chair, Tianjin Meat Industry Association

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• “At the same time, there is awareness, supported by available information, that beef, especially Brazilian beef, is the commodity most associated with deforestation among all agricultural commodities imported by China,” — Andre Vasconcelos, Trase

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• “supports initiatives focused on certification but considers that any new labels should align with already established systems, avoiding overlaps and requirements that lack public infrastructure for implementation, which could create potential barriers to production.” — ABIEC, Beef Export Association

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• “The industry is still trying to understand how this certification can recognize and value Brazilian products, in a scenario of geopolitical tension,” — Marina Guyot, Imaflora Policy Manager

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The first container of certified beef is expected to arrive in China before the import quota is reached. The “Beef on Track” label should be operational for all stakeholders by the end of 2026, pending improvements to Brazil’s traceability system and broader adoption.

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