August 27, 2009

JBS S.A. and Wal-Mart Stores Inc. have reached an agreement in which JBS will produce beef for Walmart stores in Brazil and Walmart will market the products, with both companies adhering to responsible, sustainable practices, according to a JBS announcement.

According to JBS announcement, both parties specifically pledged to guarantee that beef will not be sourced from properties within the Amazon Biome that have been "blacklisted" by the Brazilian Environment Institute or from ranchers who have exploited child or "slave-like" labor.

The agreement also includes a commitment to identify, trace and control cattle within the ecosystem so that no cattle raised in the region can be associated with illegal deforestation or logging, JBS said.

JBS made the announcement in its second-quarter financials.