Brazil’s New General Environmental Licensing Law: Comparative Analysis and Alignment With International Environmental Impact Assessment Principles

Laws No. 15,190/2025 and No. 15,300/2025 changed Brazil’s national environmental licensing rules, including simplified procedures and a special procedure for strategic projects. This study examines the extent to which the new legal framework corresponds to recognized criteria for Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) systems. A qualitative documentary study was conducted through a comparison of the previous and current legislation, a critical review of the literature, and a matrix based on Ahmad and Wood (2002). The analysis identified normative correspondence in criteria concerning procedural rules, environmental studies, assessment of alternatives, public participation, and mitigation and monitoring measures. Standardized rules and electronic processing may improve predictability and administrative efficiency, depending on how they are implemented. The laws examined do not establish a specific national procedure for Strategic Environmental Assessment, a general requirement for independent external review of studies, or a permanent EIA training program. The effectiveness of the new procedures will depend on the technical capacity of environmental agencies, the quality of assessments, and enforcement after licenses are issued.