Chamber of Deputies Approves Bill Regulating Rodeos and “Vaquejadas”

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – On Tuesday night, August 20th, the plenary of the Chamber of Deputies closed the voting on the bill that rules rodeos, bull-catching and calf roping in Brazil (PL 8240/17), after rejecting three of the PT’s prominences to the text.

The bill now requires presidential assent to become law.

The bill is the result of Constitutional Amendment 96, which, among other things, acknowledges the rodeo as a non-material asset, part of Brazilian cultural heritage.

The amendment calls for the regulation of the practices by a specific law, ensuring the welfare of animals involved. According to the approved text, the rodeo, the cowboy, and the lariat are recognized as sporting and cultural expressions of the Brazilian intangible cultural heritage.

The approved proposal defines disciplines that are recognized as sporting, equestrian, and traditional. The list includes dressage, the complete equestrian competition, endurance, cross-country riding, lariat and speed races, horseback riding, marching competition, racing, rodeo events, and polo, among others.

Concerning animal welfare in rodeos, sufficient water and feed must be available at all times, and a suitable place for resting must be provided. Injuries and illnesses must also be prevented through appropriate facilities, tools, and utensils, as well as by delivering veterinary assistance.

This article was drafted with automated assistance and reviewed before publication. How we use AI · Report an error