The application of european standards in Brazil

extraterritoriality through the european regulation on deforestation and criminal repression of deforestation in public lands

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.12662/2447-6641oj.v22i41.p238-271.2024

Keywords:

extraterritoriality, european regulation on deforestation-free products (EUDR), Federal Judiciary

Abstract

Contextualization: The article examines the potential extraterritorial impacts of the European Union’s (EU) Regulation on Deforestation-free Products (EUDR) on the formulation of Brazilian environmental policies, given the EU’s strict environmental compliance requirements for exporting countries. In addition to outlining control mechanisms for imported products, the EUDR establishes systems to evaluate the public policies of exporting countries against deforestation, including enforcement mechanisms and the application of sanctions.

Objective: To assess whether the sanctions provided under Article 50-A of Law No. 9.605/98, which criminalizes illegal deforestation in forests located on public or unclaimed lands in Brazil, meet EUDR criteria, particularly regarding the effectiveness of Brazilian criminal law in combating deforestation.

Method: The study analyzed 66 rulings from the Federal Regional Court of the 1st Region between January and October 2024, based on jurisprudence research using keywords related to deforestation and criminal appeals. In cases where convictions occurred, the applied penalties and the deforested areas were evaluated.

Results: Most cases resulted in acquittals (58.2%) or statutes of limitation (8.8%), while only 32.4% led to convictions. The applied penalties, typically light, often consisted of non-custodial measures, notably pecuniary sanctions, which proved insufficient to deter illegal deforestation. It is concluded that Brazilian criminal legislation does not meet the qualitative and purpose-driven criteria established by the EUDR to evaluate the effectiveness of the repressive policies of exporting countries.

Author Biographies

Jamile Bergamaschine Mata Diz, UFMG

Doutora em Direito Público/Direito Comunitário pela Universidad Alcalá de Henares -Madrid. Mestre em Direito pela UAH, Madrid. Master en Instituciones y Políticas de la UE-UCJC/Madrid. Coordenadora do Centro de Excelência Europeu Jean Monnet UFMG. Professora da Faculdade de Direito da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG).  Catedrática Jean Monnet Direito UFMG. Belo Horizonte, MG, BR.

Vinicius Cobucci, Escola Superior Dom Helder Câmara

Doutorando em Direito pela Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais. Mestre em Direito Ambiental e Desenvolvimento Sustentável pela Escola Superior Dom Helder Câmara. Bacharel em Direito pela Universidade Federal de Viçosa. Juiz Federal. Ex-Defensor Público Federal. Belo Horizonte, MG, BR. . 

Carlos Francisco Molina Del Pozo, Universidade de Alcalá de Henares

Catedrático de Derecho Administrativo y Catedrático Jean Monnet Ad Personam de Derecho de la Unión Europea en la Universidad de Alcalá de Henares (Madrid). Presidente del Instituto Eurolatinoamericano de Estudios para la Integración (IELEPI). España.

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Published

2024-12-12

How to Cite

MATA DIZ, Jamile Bergamaschine; COBUCCI, Vinicius; DEL POZO, Carlos Francisco Molina. The application of european standards in Brazil: extraterritoriality through the european regulation on deforestation and criminal repression of deforestation in public lands. Revista Opinião Jurídica (Fortaleza), Fortaleza, v. 22, n. 41, p. 238–271, 2024. DOI: 10.12662/2447-6641oj.v22i41.p238-271.2024. Disponível em: https://periodicos.unichristus.edu.br/opiniaojuridica/article/view/5636. Acesso em: 6 aug. 2026.

Issue

Vol. 22 No. 41 (2024)

Section

Artigos Originais

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