The differences between the commitments of the beef chain
The transition to more responsible beef production in the Amazon requires the full implementation of the commitments assumed in 2009 by several sectors.
There are two commitments in effect: the Terms of Adjustment of Conduct (TAC) signed by the meatpackers with the Public Prosecutor's Office (MPF) and the so-called Public Livestock Commitment, proposed by Greenpeace and entered into by the three leading beef companies (JBS, Marfrig and Minerva) also in 2009. TACs are extrajudicial agreements mediated by the MPF and the Public Livestock Commitment is a voluntary commitment aimed at zero deforestation.
The TACs aim to establish conditions and criteria for the purchase of cattle in the Amazon. The companies are jointly and severally committed to preventing the cattle of producers involved in environmental, land and social irregularities from being sold. The Public Commitment is very similar to the TAC (see Table 1); however, it includes the criterion of zero deforestation since it states that no deforestation can occur after 2009.
Table 1 - Similarities and differences in the commitments in effect in the Amazon
Legend: X = does not address
Y = addresses
| Criteria | Terms of Adjustment of Conduct for the state of Pará (TAC Pará) | Terms of Adjustment of Conduct for the Amazon (TAC Amazon) | Public Commitment |
| Cut-off date | 01/08/2008 | 22/07/2008 | 05/10/2009 |
| Zero deforestation | X | X | |
| Illegal deforestation | Y | Y | Y |
| Overlap with Indigenous Lands | Y | Y | Y |
| Overlap with Conservation Units | Y | Y | Y |
| Ibama's environmental embargo | Y | Y | Y |
| State environmental embargo (list) | X | X | |
| List of slave-like labour | Y | Y | Y |
| CAR | Y | Y | Y |
| Changes to the limits of CAR | X | X | X |
| Rural Environmental License (LAR) | Y | Y | Y |
| GTA | Y | Y | Y |
To learn more and understand how these criteria should be monitored, please visit the Information page and read the Cattle Supplier Monitoring Protocol.
Institutions establish cooperation to ensure legality and sustainability of cattle ranching in Pará
Partnership between the Public Prosecutor’s Office, Amigos da Terra and Imaflora aims to create a committee to enforce and expand the commitments of this productive chain.
Technology increases transparency in the livestock chain
Tool supports the monitoring of indirect suppliers
Technical Report: Analysis of Leather Certification Systems and Recommendations
The aim of this report is to offer our final review and recommendations concerning Leather Certification Systems as proposed in the fourth stage of the Beef on Track Program – Leather Value Chain Action. Beef on Track, February 2021.