Federal Environment Minister Svenja Schulze proposes to supplement the sustainability rules of the Mercosur Free Trade Agreement between the European Union and Latin American countries with a meat certification system.
"Soy and beef should only be imported if production demonstrably does not harm the rainforest," the SPD politician told SPIEGEL. "It's hard to bear that the EU imports soy protein feed and beef from areas where rainforests have been cleared or burned."
In Brazil, large areas of the Amazon have been burning for weeks. So far, President Jair Bolsonaro is only half-hearted.
Schulze's suggestion is still moderate compared to other reactions. Several EU countries have completely opposed ratification of the Mercosur Treaty in order to increase pressure on the Bolsonaro.