President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva signed legislation late Thursday that outlaws the production and sale of foie gras across Brazil, citing concerns over animal cruelty. The new law covers both the creation of the product and its commercial distribution, effectively removing foie gras from the Brazilian market.
U.S.-based advocacy organization Pro-Animal Future said the measure makes Brazil the first country in Latin America to ban both production and sale of the French delicacy. Foie gras is typically produced from the livers of ducks and geese that have been fattened through a force-feeding process, a practice that animal welfare groups have long criticized.
France regards foie gras as part of its culinary heritage, but that view has not prevented continued opposition from animal welfare organizations to the force-feeding methods used to enlarge the livers of ducks and geese.
Natalie Fulton, Pro-Animal Future’s media and content lead, praised the breadth of the prohibition, saying: "It’s amazing that this covers both sale and production because (Brazil) is taking a very hard stance against a cruel industry."
Brazil’s own production of foie gras is minimal, according to the information provided. Because of that limited domestic output, the ban on sales will in practice cut off imports of foie gras, notably shipments from France, removing the luxury item from retail and restaurant availability within Brazil.
The global regulatory landscape for foie gras already includes a number of prohibitions. Twenty countries have banned foie gras production worldwide. In addition, India and China have disallowed imports of the product, though China continues to maintain a domestic foie gras industry that competes with French production.
The legislation marks a notable regulatory step on animal welfare in Brazil and shifts the legal status of a specific luxury food item by addressing both its manufacture and distribution. Given the reported small scale of local production, the immediate market effect will be primarily on imports and the channels that previously supplied foie gras to Brazilian consumers.