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15 Apr 2024

Brazil: Hong Kong companies implicated in Amazon deforestation through beef imports linked to illegal cattle ranching; incl. co. non-response

An investigation by Repórter Brasil and Hong Kong Free Press (HKFP) has revealed that Hong Kong companies have imported beef products from Brazilian farms and slaughterhouses connected to illegal deforestation in the Amazon rainforest. The investigation traced cattle from the farms of rancher Bruno Heller, who has been fined US$5 million and accused of clearing 6,500 hectares of forest, to a slaughterhouse that exported beef to at least four Hong Kong firms: Galaila International Company Limited, Harvest Charm Limited, Loyalty Union Asia Limited, and Uni Shining International Trading Co., Limited.

"When HKFP visited the companies’ offices late last November, little could be gleaned about their operations...Requests for comment sent via registered mail and, where possible, emails to all four companies have gone unanswered..."

In April 2024, Business & Human Rights Resource Centre invited Galaila International to respond, it did not. Due to limited publicly-available information, the other three companies could not be contacted for comment.

Company Responses

Galaila International Company Limited

No Response

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