Brazil Supreme Court upholds laws that led to downfall of Amazon soy moratorium
The ruling preserves the voluntary pact but lets states penalize compliant farmers, raising doubts about a deal that cut deforestation 35% in its first decade.
- On Wednesday, Brazil's Supreme Court upheld state laws denying tax incentives to farmers who complied with the soy moratorium, while affirming the voluntary pact's constitutionality.
- Launched in 2006, the moratorium banned soy on deforested Amazon land, though producers long argued it was stricter than Brazilian environmental law, which permits clearing 20% of land.
- A study in Science reported the moratorium reduced deforestation by 35% in its first decade, while Brazil continues to account for about 40% of global soybean output.
- Following state actions revoking tax benefits, major traders withdrew from the pact in January; the Brazilian Association of Vegetable Oil Industries said the ruling ends legal uncertainty.
- Greenpeace Brazil legal coordinator Angela Barbarulo called the decision "enormously important," though scientists warn ending the pact could drive up to 1.4 million hectares of deforestation.
24 Articles
24 Articles
Brazil’s STF Upholds the Amazon Soy Moratorium — But Lets States Punish It
Brazil · Agribusiness Key Facts Ruling Kept The STF declared the Amazon Soy Moratorium constitutional and ordered legal challenges dismissed, including at antitrust regulator CADE. State Laws The Court upheld Mato Grosso and Rondônia laws that strip tax benefits from companies adhering to the moratorium. Time Limits Any tax-benefit removal must respect annual anteriority and […] The post Brazil’s STF Upholds the Amazon Soy Moratorium — But Lets …
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Ministers Dias Toffoli, André Mendonça and Luiz Fux were defeated, who argued not to discuss the matter since the actions did not directly address the issue.
To the WW, Gustavo Augusto, former president of the Cade, states that the decision of the STF allows state laws that impose severe restrictions on the companies signing the agreement
The STF (Supremo Tribunal Federal) formed a majority on Wednesday (12) to declare all the proceedings and investigations to be terminated regarding what was known as Moratria da Soja, agreement signed in 2006 between major exporters of gr os, association of the sector and environmental organization to prevent the purchase of soybeans produced in the areas of amaz nia laid down after July 2008. Read more (08/12/2026
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