Law No. 2585 of 2026: Livestock Traceability, Environmental Certification and Measures for a Sustainable, Deforestation-Free Cattle Supply Chain in Colombia

Law No. 2585 of 2026 establishes regulatory, institutional and technological instruments to ensure a sustainable, deforestation-free cattle supply chain in Colombia. It mandates the gradual interoperability of animal identification and traceability systems with forest and carbon monitoring systems, cadastral information and property registries to identify and prevent deforestation associated with cattle production. The law strengthens interinstitutional coordination through the National Commission for Animal Identification, Information and Traceability and the National Council to Combat Deforestation (CONALDEF). It promotes zero-deforestation agreements in beef and dairy supply chains, updates to the Colombian Environmental Label under Technical Standard NTC 6550:2021, and free accreditation of deforestation-free producers. It also establishes high-surveillance zones in active deforestation areas, special livestock identification and control measures, due diligence obligations for processing and marketing facilities, and implementation monitoring and evaluation mechanisms. Its purpose is to improve traceability, prevent deforestation, strengthen environmental governance and promote sustainable livestock production.