Brazilian dairy executives and regulator urge earlier dialogue to speed innovation
The discussion brought together Fábio Ferreira, chief executive and president of Verde Campo; Juliana Satie Becker de Carvalho Chino, director of the Department of Inspection of Products of Animal Origin; Guilherme Portella, Lactalis do Brasil’s director of communications, ESG, regulatory and corporate affairs; Marcelo Pereira de Carvalho, chief executive of MilkPoint Ventures; Marcelo Costa Martins, director of institutional and government relations at Piracanjuba; and Gustavo Beduschi, director of institutional relations at Italac. Participants identified clear rules and predictable procedures as features of a sound regulatory environment. Martins said rapid technological change required scientifically grounded discussions and preparation for future demands. He also cited difficulties arising from three inspection and registration tiers that do not always operate consistently, arguing for a structured regulatory agenda.
Beduschi said companies should support their requests with technical documentation, bibliographic references and research from Brazil and abroad to give regulators confidence about consumer safety. Chino discussed expanding public consultations and drawing on evidence and experience from other countries, including when assessing whether further studies could be waived. She urged companies to approach sanitary authorities before completing product development: technical questions raised only at the end could require revisions and delay approval. Research and development teams should consider international standards and Brazilian requirements from the outset, she said. Portella said even comparatively simple innovations encountered bureaucratic difficulties in Brazil relative to other markets, and called for procedures that kept pace with development while preserving safety.
Labelling was another central topic. Chino cited regulatory assessments involving A2 milk and melatonin as examples of the complexity of substantiating product benefits and determining what companies could tell consumers. Beduschi said information must not mislead buyers, particularly claims concerning health effects such as better sleep or cognitive performance. Ferreira argued that prominent packaging messages should have scientific support and, where appropriate, independent third-party validation. Participants called for accurate, transparent communication backed by evidence, alongside professional training and closer cooperation among companies, universities and regulatory bodies.
Ferreira also identified milk quality as an area requiring improvement in Brazil. He called for more research, a deeper understanding of consumers and an assessment of whether processing plants were equipped to produce foods matching changes in preferences and consumption habits. Chino highlighted the need to improve the health status of Brazilian herds. Beduschi said milk-solids composition and logistics affected competitiveness and the ability to innovate. Long collection routes could affect raw-milk quality before delivery to processors, he said, requiring attention to the entire journey from farms to factory reception.
Portella identified differences across the production chain as a major challenge. Martins said household income influenced demand for higher-value products; in his assessment, rising incomes could give more consumers access to differentiated foods and create opportunities for innovation. Participants also discussed identifying shared problems and strengthening cooperation across the chain. Ferreira reiterated the need for investment in research and consumer knowledge, while Carvalho called for common challenges to be turned into questions that could stimulate improvements throughout the sector.
Asked to identify priorities for the next five years, Ferreira called for a shorter interval between development, testing, scientific substantiation and a product reaching consumers, while maintaining responsible communication of benefits. Beduschi prioritised better exchanges with regulators, packaging that did not mislead and higher incomes to support consumption. Martins wanted the sector recognised for technological innovation, science, clarity and transparency as well as production volume. Portella sought more uniform enforcement at federal, state and municipal levels. He also advocated a broader approach to innovation covering relationships across the supply chain, including initiatives supporting the development of dairy farmers.
