The federal government authorized meatpacking plants to hire private agents to carry out ante-mortem and post-mortem inspections of animals destined for slaughter. The measure, provided for under the Self-Control Law (Law 14.515/2022), was regulated by a decree signed by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and published on November 1 in the Official Gazette.
The decree allows inspections to be carried out by seconded public servants, cooperation agreements with states and municipalities, autonomous social services or accredited private companies, at no cost to the federal government. These private agents may provide technical and operational support to inspections within slaughter plants.
Until now, inspections were performed exclusively by the Federal Inspection Service (SIF). The meat industry supported the measure, arguing that additional personnel were needed to meet rising production demands.
Agricultural auditors criticized the decision, warning that the involvement of private inspectors could compromise quality and sanitary safety, an issue that will require close monitoring as the system is implemented, reported Pecuaria.
