SUPERMARKETS ISSUE ENVIRONMENTAL HARM WARNING TO BRAZIL

BRITISH supermarkets have issued a new warning to Brazil that they could stop sourcing products from the country if it passes a law which threatens the Amazon.

Retailers including Tesco, Aldi, Marks & Spencer, Lidl, Sainsbury’s, Co-op, Waitrose and Iceland are among major companies which have raised concerns over a new effort by Brazil to legalise the private occupation of public land, mostly in the Amazon.

Asda, Morrisons and Greggs are also among the companies signing an open letter warning against the proposed law, along with other retailers, producers, investors and industry bodies. It is feared the move, which was first attempted a year ago but was withdrawn after more than 40 major organisations made the same threat over supply chain sourcing, will drive deforestation.

Conservationists have previously warned it will legitimise previous illegal land grabs and pave the way for more forests to be burned and cleared for agriculture such as beef and soy, which is used as an animal feed for livestock. It will make it harder to meet international targets to tackle climate change, as forests are huge carbon stores, and undermine the rights of indigenous communities in the region.

In the open letter to Brazilian politicians, the businesses said the new law being put forward for a vote posed “potentially even greater threats to the Amazon than before”. The companies warn that in the past year they had seen circumstances “result in extremely high levels of forest fires and deforestation in Brazil” and that the targets and budgets to reduce the problem were inadequate.

The companies say they want to help develop sustainable land management and agriculture in Brazil, and support economic development while upholding indigenous community rights in the Amazon region.