According to official figures from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), Brazil has the world’s largest commercial cattle herd, around 239 million head. This makes the country the world’s second-largest beef producer, with almost 12 million tons produced yearly. However, this is not the most outstanding data, but the fact that Brazil is the main global beef exporter, reaching more than 150 countries, according to official figures from the Brazilian government (Ministry of Development, Industry, Trade and Services).
To uphold this leading global role—thus ensuring quality and meeting the increasingly strict demands of international markets—, herd traceability is a key point in the Brazilian beef production chain.
Since 2009, Brazil has had a legal framework for traceability (Law No. 12097/2009), reinforced by a specific ordinance (Decree No. 7623/2011). This system allows the animals’ origin and track record to be traced in two ways: by batch (using the Guia de Trânsito Animal [Animal Transit Guide] and respective invoice) or per head (through the Sistema Brasileiro de Identificação Individual de Bovinos e Búfalos, or Brazilian System for the Individual Identification of Cattle and Buffaloes – SISBOV).
SISBOV is the official individual traceability system. Although adherence is voluntary for most producers, it becomes mandatory in some cases, such as exports to markets that require strict control of origin—such as the European Union, for instance.
To further strengthen this system, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAPA) launched in December 2024 the Plano Nacional de Identificação Individual de Bovinos e Búfalos [National Plan for Individual Identification of Cattle and Buffaloes – PNIB]. The proposal is clear: to update and expand individual traceability, focusing on health security and access to demanding markets.
With this new plan, Brazil—which so far was the only major exporter lacking mandatory individual traceability—will now have the largest program of its kind in the world, covering more than 240 million animals.
This change impacts the entire chain directly: it enables disease control, increases transparency, improves production efficiency, and opens prospects for international certifications. All of this reinforces Brazil’s image as a reliable supplier of quality beef—something increasingly appreciated by consumers concerned about the origins of their food.
To ensure PNIB’s success, the Brazilian Confederation of Agriculture and Livestock (CNA) is boosting communication with producers and the sector as a whole. Engaging those in the field will be crucial to carry out this change—and take Brazil to a new level in the global beef scenario.