Decree No. 12/2020 regulating the livestock sector and the entire food chain, with regard to the hygiene of animals and products of animal origin intended for human consumption.

This Decree, consisting of 92 articles, divided into six Chapters, under articles 13 and 18 of Law No. 30/VIII/2013 of 13 May, aims to regulate the animal production sector and the entire food chain, with regard to the hygiene of animals and products of animal origin intended for human consumption. It applies to the entire animal production process, namely, animal slaughtering, processing and packaging of animal products, marketing, import, export and transit of animals and animal products of the following species: a) Cattle, sheep, goats and/or other species of ruminants; b) Pigs; c) Birds; d) Rabbits, and all species of leporids; e) Equids; f) All other species, included in the Terrestrial and Aquatic Animal Health Code, of the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE). This Decree also applies to feline, canine, mustelid species and other pets, non-endemic animals and aquaculture products. The application of sanitary hygiene standards is required in health inspection throughout the production, import, export and commercialization chain. Animal production of a primary nature intended for self-consumption is excluded from the application of this regime.
This Decree regulates the importation or introduction of any animals into the market which should be accompanied by an international health certificate, established in accordance with the standards of the OIE Terrestrial and Aquatic Animal Health Codes, and the importation and transit of endangered wild fauna species in accordance with the terms and standards of CITES.