Brazil Enacts Landmark Law to Protect Animals Rescued in Disasters
Brazil enacts Law 15.355/2026 establishing a national policy to protect animals rescued during disasters, mandating coordinated rescue efforts and penalties for environmental harm.
- • President Lula signs Law 15.355/2026 for animal rescue policy.
- • Law integrates animal protection into civil defense contingency plans.
- • Penalties imposed for causing environmental disasters harming animals.
- • Rescue operations require trained teams and veterinary evaluations.
Key details
On March 12, 2026, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva sanctioned Law 15.355/2026, establishing the National Policy for the Care and Management of Animals Rescued from Disasters (Amar). This unprecedented legislation mandates coordinated action among federal, state, and municipal governments to integrate animal rescue into civil defense contingency plans, aiming to reduce animal mortality during emergencies such as floods, fires, and environmental accidents.
The law imposes clear responsibilities on public authorities and private sectors, making it obligatory to conduct rescues with trained teams including veterinarians. Animals must undergo health evaluations and may be rehabilitated for return to owners or release into the wild, except for prohibited exotic species like wild boars. The policy also requires transparency through online documentation of rescue operations.
Significant in its scope, the law establishes penalties for those causing environmental disasters that harm wildlife or domestic animals, equivalent to animal cruelty offenses, with punishments ranging from three months to one year of detention along with fines. It also obliges businesses subject to environmental licensing to institute measures minimizing wildlife impact during disasters, including staff training and emergency planning.
The legislative move draws from prior disasters like the 2019 Brumadinho dam collapse and 2024 floods in Rio Grande do Sul, which highlighted gaps in animal rescue protocols. Originally proposed by Senator Wellington Fagundes in 2019 and refined by Deputy Marcelo Queiroz, the law emphasizes principles of prevention, responsible guardianship, biosafety, and ecosystem management consistent with Brazilian environmental and biodiversity commitments.
This comprehensive policy marks a significant advancement in integrating animal welfare into Brazil’s broader disaster response frameworks while reinforcing environmental accountability and animal protection.
This article was translated and synthesized from Brazilian sources, providing English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
Source articles (3)
Source comparison
Date of law signing
Sources report different dates for when the law was signed.
portalcultura.com.br
"On May 12, 2026, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva signed Law No. 15.355/2026."
camara.leg.br
"On March 12, 2026, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva sanctioned Law 15.355/26."
www12.senado.leg.br
"President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has sanctioned the creation of a national policy... Law 15.355 of 2026... was published in the Diário Oficial da União."
Why this matters: One source states the law was signed on May 12, 2026, while the others report it was signed on March 12, 2026. This discrepancy is significant as it affects the timeline of the law's enactment and related events.