On November 27, 2025, the National Congress overturned most of the presidential vetoes to the new environmental licensing framework. The decision reinstates provisions that simplify steps and expedite licensing procedures, particularly for activities classified as low and medium impact, encompassing several projects relevant to agribusiness.

Among the main reinstated points are:

• The return of the License by Adhesion and Commitment (LAC), which allows licensing through self-declaration for activities previously defined by the states. This measure reduces procedural complexity and review time, making the implementation of new projects more predictable.
  • Corrective Operating License (LOC), a mechanism that enables the regularization of projects already operating without a license, provided that environmental conditions set by the authority are met.
  • Greater autonomy for states to define criteria such as project size, pollution potential, and applicable licensing modalities, aligning environmental licensing with regional realities. The principle of proportionality is reinforced, requiring technically justified environmental conditions compatible with the expected impact.

For agribusiness, these changes present clear opportunities for greater agility in the expansion of productive structures, reduced legal uncertainty, and a strengthened business environment, especially in states aligned with regulatory modernization. However, the adoption of simplified procedures also imposes additional responsibility on entrepreneurs: self-declaration requires solid internal governance, proper documentation, traceability, and continuous monitoring of environmental conditions.

Despite the administrative streamlining bringing efficiency, relevant differences among state-level regulations must be considered. Financial institutions and international markets remain attentive to socio-environmental practices, which reinforce the need for robust compliance. Errors or inconsistencies in self-declarations may result in significant penalties and harm corporate reputation.

Thus, rural producers and other sector stakeholders should review their projects and operations to identify opportunities to use the LAC and LOC, carefully assessing the risks and benefits of each modality. Specialized legal and technical support remains essential to ensure compliance, competitiveness, and security in decision-making, and Daniel Law is available to assist you with these matters or to clarify any questions on the topic.