Brazil Enacts ‘Amar’ Law Establishing National Animal-Rescue Protocols

Overview

• President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva sanctioned Law No. 15.355/2026, published in the Diário Oficial, creating the Política Amar to govern protection, rescue, sheltering and handling of animals in disasters.
• Operations must use trained teams with professional coordination, and rescued animals receive immediate veterinary care, identification for return to guardians or responsible adoption; for wildlife, destination is set by the competent environmental authority.
• Sanitary controls include isolating animals suspected of infectious disease and administering vaccinations when indicated under veterinary and health authority guidance.
• Enterprises whose activities pose environmental risk must maintain emergency action plans that cover fauna, train rescue teams, provide equipment and vehicles, and fund medicines, food, shelters and veterinary care.
• The statute strengthens polluter‑pays accountability with new penalties for disasters that harm animal life or welfare, updates dam safety rules to include animal and environmental preservation, and mandates electronic records with aggregated public reporting.