Environmental
Brazil is expected to access genetic heritage from other countries, in addition to sharing the benefits of technological developments involving Brazilian biodiversity, which will bring about scientific advances for Brazil and foster economic growth.
Decree institutes a system for reverse logistics of expired medicines for home use. In the first two years, pharmacies will have to supply collection points only in cities with more than 500 thousand inhabitants.
With two joint normative ruling, MMA, Ibama, and ICMBio regulate the conversion of simple environmental fines into services of preservation, improvements, and recovery of environmental quality, facilitating the resolution of administrative proceedings
In limine injunctive relief was granted in the judgment of ADPF 656, filed by the Rede Sustentabilidade party against Ordinance 43/20 of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Supply. Review of this action will be resumed after a request for review of the record by Justice Roberto Barroso.
Draft of the new decree, under discussion until April 4, intends to update the regulation of legislation relating to seeds to the latest technologies and market realities.
In addition to the federal environmental agency (Ibama), state and municipal agencies have temporarily canceled in-person services, which should have an impact on licensing, authorizations, approvals, and inspections.
The year 2019 was marked by great uncertainties and numerous challenges for Brazilian environmental law. Changes and legislative developments and events throughout the year have generated various demands, actions, and business opportunities in relation to various topics, such as mining and dams, climate change, fires and deforestation, solid waste, environmental licensing, and economic development with sustainability.
Joint Normative Instruction (IN) No. 2/20, published on January 29 by the Ministry of the Environment (MMA), the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Natural Resources (Ibama), and the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio), brought in new regulations on the federal administrative procedure for investigating administrative environmental violations. The standard seeks to consolidate administrative procedures at Ibama and ICMBio, repealing prior instruments.
Federal Decree No. 10,240/20, published in February, implements the reverse logistics system for electronic products and their components for domestic use. The regulation was expected, since important players in the marketing cycle of these products, especially the retail sector, had not adhered to the industry agreement on the subject signed on October 31, 2019. At the time, various sectors assumed obligations before the public authorities to implement appropriate reverse logistics of waste arising from the market of electrical and electronic products and their components, on a voluntary basis, due to the contractual nature of the agreement.
After the entry into force of Law No. 17,110/19, which prohibits the supply of plastic straws, Law No. 17,261/20, which prohibits the distribution of plastic disposables in commercial establishments in São Paulo starting next year, was passed on January 13.
The practice of environmental law attorneys, whether advisory or focused on litigation, has been gaining prominence in times of growing interest and intense media coverage of events that cause impacts on the environment. Influenced by this trend, law firms themselves have begun to assess the sustainability of their internal structures and policies.
Cetesb (São Paulo State Environmental Company) approved new procedures for the incorporation of reverse logistics in the state environmental licensing process, by means of the Board Decision (DD) No. 114/2019/P/C, published on October 25th of this year. The rules enter into effect in November, 30 calendar days after the date of publication.
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