Share
To ensure the highest possible quality of beef, as well as compliance with sustainability processes, there are modern devices that allow individualized control of each animal. Expanding and consolidating these instruments is one of the objectives of the National Plan for Individual Identification of Cattle and Buffaloes (PNIB), officially launched on December 17, 2024.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (Mapa), the plan was developed “to strengthen traceability in Brazil’s meat and milk production chain, meeting demands for food safety and sanitary control.” This is due to the fact that the current system, based on batches, is not as efficient at, for example, detecting possible diseases and pests in a timely manner, which can compromise the animals’ quality of life and, consequently, the cuts that reach butcher shops and supermarkets.
It is also a way to increase competitiveness in international markets, since markets such as the European Union and China pressure players for meat that does not originate from regions with a history of deforestation — something that could be more easily guaranteed with end-to-end monitoring of animals.
Main impacts of the PNIB on production
Beef is often associated with one of the largest sources of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and illegal deforestation linked to livestock is one of the main targets of criticism.
To help reverse this scenario, in 2024 a pilot plan between China and Brazil was announced to make beef production more sustainable, according to a Forbes report. To that end, a cross-border platform is being developed that ensures transparency in the supply chain of meat and its derivatives.
Both countries agreed that the best path is the development of a unified global methodology. It can also help combat the falsification of beef, often associated with the pursuit of lower prices at the expense of necessary environmental care.
This will also bring Brazil into compliance with the European Union Regulation on Deforestation-Free Products (EUDR), which requires precise geographic traceability for imported meats, prohibiting products associated with areas where deforestation occurred after December 31, 2020.
The initiative will ensure that national exports meet the ecological requirements demanded by their main markets, as well as prevent disease outbreaks that could compromise consumers’ health in the long term. It is also, therefore, an instrument to expand food safety, in addition to contributing to animal welfare.
How will the PNIB be implemented?
In total, four stages will be carried out by 2032. The first, starting in July 2025, concerns the creation of the national Central Database. This platform will be responsible for storing and integrating in real time the animals’ identification data, including location, sanitary history and movements.
The second stage, which should be completed by December 2026, requires state Agricultural Sanitary Executive Bodies (OESAs) to adapt their systems to ensure interoperability with the national database. To that end, standards for formats, communication protocols and information security must be aligned during this period.
Between January 2027 and December 2029, animals that participate in sanitary procedures (such as vaccination against brucellosis) or are in private protocols approved by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (Mapa) must be individually identified. It is worth mentioning that the movement of unidentified animals will still be permitted, except in the cases cited above.
Finally, the mandatory identification process will be expanded between 2030 and 2032, reaching the entire national herd. All animals must be properly registered in the system before their first movement; states that have already completed the previous stages may bring this requirement forward.
From January 1, 2033, the movement of unidentified cattle and buffaloes will be prohibited. Details can be found in Ordinance SDA/MAPA No. 1,331, published in the Federal Official Gazette (DOU).