Presidential Decree institutes Amazon Seal to boost regional services, products

On Monday, December 2, Decree No. 12,285/2024 establishing the Amazon Seal Program (Programa Selo Amazônia) was published in the Official Gazette of the Union (Diário Oficial da União/DOU). The goal is to provide guidelines for the standardization and certification of services and industrialized products from the Legal Amazon, using raw materials and inputs from the biome's biodiversity while meeting the requirements for environmental, economic, and social sustainability. The text was signed by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and the Vice President of the Republic and Minister of Industry, Trade, and Services Geraldo Alckmin.

SUSTAINABILITY — The seal will be implemented to bolster sustainable development and incentivize environmental, economic, and social sustainability in the Amazon biome; support the structuring process of sustainable production chains; integrate certification programs aimed at promoting sustainability and policies that promote the market of sustainable products; and ensure transparency in social inclusion and income generation programs. The measure also anticipates alignment with the Convention on Biological Diversity and the National Bioeconomy Strategy.

REQUIREMENTS — The requirements for obtaining the Amazon Seal will be defined by a collegiate body formed by representatives from the government, the productive sector, and civil society organizations from the Legal Amazon, including Indigenous peoples, traditional peoples and communities, and family farmers. These requirements will follow the principles of good regulation practices, and will take into consideration the source, raw materials, and inputs used, in addition to criteria related to environmental, economic, and social sustainability. The Amazon Seal will not be issued for services and products that directly or indirectly promote deforestation or degradation of native forests; pose risks to biodiversity or contribute to the extinction of endemic or threatened species; or violate animal rights, including practices that result in mistreatment, inhumane exploitation, or the use of native species in disrespect of environmental laws. 

CONFORMITY – The Amazon Seal will be conferred by conformity-assessment agencies accredited by Brazil’s National Institute of Metrology, Standardization and Industrial Quality (Instituto Nacional de Metrologia, Qualidade e Tecnologia /INMETRO) for services and products that demonstrably meet the requirements established in technical standards for certification through the Amazon Seal.

COMPETITIVENESS – Other points of the decree address the intention to aggregate value, increase quality, and boost the growth and competitiveness of services and industrialized products from the Legal Amazon that use raw materials and inputs from the biodiversity of the Amazon biome, ensuring social, economic, and environmental sustainability.

PRODUCTIVE CHAINS – The text also addresses the potential contribution to reducing inequality and expanding sustainable development in the Legal Amazon. Furthermore, it provides for the strengthening of bioeconomy drivers with a positive impact along the production chains in the industry of the Legal Amazon. The measure aims to provide a verifiable information tool for products and services, demonstrating compliance with production requirements using inputs and raw materials derived from the biodiversity of the Amazon biome in a socioeconomically and environmentally sustainable manner. It also includes expanding the inclusion of Amazon bioeconomy products in national markets and global value chains, as well as recognizing and valuing the production and knowledge of Indigenous peoples, traditional peoples and communities, and family farmers.