How can companies assess compliance with the Brazil Forest Code?

Companies buying Brazilian forestry and agricultural commodities are under increasing pressure to demonstrate that their products derive from sustainable agricultural sources, and that they do not contribute, for instance, towards illegal deforestation in Brazil.

The Brazilian Forest Code is the central piece of legislation regulating natural habitat conservation and conversion inside private lands in the country. Many companies do not have the tools to assess whether the commodities in their supply chains comply with the Code – nor to foster such compliance from their suppliers.

A new practical guide developed by Proforest, BVRio and IPAM under the umbrella of the Observatório do Código Florestal (Forest Code Observatory) aims to address this by helping companies to assess compliance with the Brazilian Forest Code in their supply chains. It provides current and evolving compliance tools and suggests steps that both buyers and suppliers can take to comply with this law.

Recognising the potential the private sector has to support sustainable agricultural practices, and the need companies have to reduce their exposure to illegality in the supply chain, the guide aims to harness the influencing power of large private sector actors in order to support and promote wider compliance with this key public policy. It is a practical example of how international players can build on nationally developed tools and policies to achieve their sustainability goals while contributing to local ownership of the results and the long-term governance of natural resources.

The guide’s official launch took place in Brazil at the Tropical Forest Alliance 2020 General Assembly in March 2017 and it is already supported by TFA 2020, CDP, Cargill and Nestlé. 

Download the English version of the practical guide

Download the Portuguese version of the guide here