Recently, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva enacted Law 90/2020, which prohibits the production, import, export, and commercialization of food products obtained through the force-feeding of animals, a practice associated with the production of foie gras.
With this decision, Brazil becomes the first country in Latin America and the Western Hemisphere to ban nationwide the production, import, export, and commercialization of foie gras. According to Animal Equality, it is the second country, after India, to adopt a comprehensive ban covering both the production and commercialization of this product.
"This is a historic moment. Foie gras represents one of the cruelest practices inflicted on animals exploited for human consumption, and this victory is even more significant because it has taken place in a country with enormous global influence in the livestock industry. Brazil has shown that ethical standards are non-negotiable, even under pressure from national or foreign economic interests. We trust that this progress will inspire and drive change in other parts of the world," said Sharon Núñez, President of Animal Equality, the international organization that led the initiative.
In Latin America, Mexico also has a precedent in this area. However, the ban is limited to the state of Oaxaca, where since 2024 the production and commercialization of products made through force-feeding have been prohibited under its Animal Protection and Welfare Law.

What is foie gras?According to Animal Equality, foie gras is produced from the livers of ducks and geese subjected to a force-feeding process. The aim is to deliberately induce hepatic steatosis, commonly known as fatty liver disease, causing the organ to grow up to ten times its natural size.
To achieve this, the animals are force-fed twice a day through a metal tube approximately 30 centimeters long inserted directly into their throats.

"This victory belongs to each of the more than 300,000 people who signed our petition and never allowed this issue to be forgotten. Brazil is becoming a benchmark for animal welfare in Latin America and is demonstrating that commercial interests cannot take

precedence over ethics or the will of Brazilian society itself. We hope this achievement paves the way for similar progress in other countries across the region," said Dulce Ramírez, Vice President for Latin America at Animal Equality.
In addition to Animal Equality, the U.S.-based advocacy group Pro-Animal Future praised the new law, stating that Brazil is taking a very firm stance against a cruel industry. Likewise, the international organization World Animal Protection supported the measure and reiterated that, from the perspective of animal welfare organizations, the production of foie gras through force-feeding cannot be considered compatible with the welfare of these animals.
Without a doubt, this is positive news for those who believe that the development and production of food should also move forward hand in hand with ethical principles. Brazil is setting an example through its decision and demonstrating that it is possible to open the debate on traditional practices.
Furthermore, the country is showing that public policies can evolve to respond to society's growing concerns. Beyond the case of foie gras, this precedent could encourage new discussions on animal protection throughout Latin America and other regions of the world.

Sources
●     Reuters. (2026, July 24). Brazil's Lula signs into law foie gras ban, angering France. https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/brazils-lula-signs-into-law-foie-gras-ban-angering-france-2026-07-24/
●     Igualdad Animal México. (2026, July 24). Brasil prohíbe por ley el foie gras, un producto elaborado con alimentación forzada. https://www.mynewsdesk.com/mx/igualdadanimalmx/pressreleases/brasil-prohibe-por-ley-el-foie-gras-un-producto-elaborado-con-alimentacion-forzada-3459293