📋 Tender Overview
The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MMA) expresses concern about the preventive decision of the General Superintendence of the Administrative Council for Economic Defense (SG/Cade) that determined the suspension of the soy moratorium on the grounds of alleged indications of anti-specific practices. The environmental commitment formalized in the soy moratorium with the participation of economic agents and support from government agencies has almost 20 years of effectiveness with undeniable results for environmental protection. The perpetuity of the agreement indicates its success and the absence of elements that may, by itself, characterize a purchase cartel that motivates a preventive measure. It is important to remember that the Federal Constitution of 1988 enshrined free competition and free initiative as fundamental pillars of the economic order, but in the same provision (art. 170), also unmistakable, the principle of environmental protection, including the environmental impact of the environment products and services and their preparation and installment processes. Thus, any restricted interpretation, which values only free competition without proper environmental consideration, incurs the distortion of the constitutional order itself. The soys moratorium is an internationally pioneering and recognized instrument, signed between business and civil society associations, with the support of the government, which established clear criteria for sustainable soybean production in the Amazon biome: * foreseen in the Forest Code * Exclusion of areas embargoed by illegal deforestation * Prohibition of production in areas with working conditions analogous to slavery. The results achieved are undeniable: between 2006 and 2023, the area dedicated to soy in the Amazon biome grew 427%without causing new deforestation. In the same interval, the growth in the rest of Brazil was 115%. In addition, 97.6% of deforestation occurred in the period was not associated with soybean expansion. Soys moratorium experience showed that it is possible to expand agricultural production competitively, with productivity gains, respect for human rights legislation and protection. Far from restricting the market, the agreement contributed to consolidating the image of Brazil as a reliable soy supplier produced without deforestation and social and environmental violations. MMA reaffirms its commitment to work with producers, companies and public institutions so that Brazilian agriculture follows as an example of sustainable development, reconciling economic competitiveness, environmental preservation and respect for human labor dignity.
