Greenpeace Netherlands has started legal action against meat giant JBS at its Amsterdam headquarters, demanding the Brazilian-founded company disclose a full impact assessment for its planned US$2.5 billion expansion into Nigeria.
Activists also stormed a JBS shareholder meeting at the Sheraton Hotel near Schiphol airport.
Lawyers for Greenpeace delivered a legal letter to JBS on Thursday morning, setting out alleged breaches of Dutch law and giving the company three weeks to hand over a full account of what it knows about the expansion’s likely impact on human rights, environmental damage and climate change.
JBS reconstituted as a Dutch company in June 2025 when it listed on the New York Stock Exchange, shifting its parent headquarters from São Paulo. Greenpeace had warned shareholders before the listing that it would hold the company to local law once it arrived.
A new disclosure tool
Greenpeace is making use of new evidence rules that came into force on 1 January 2025, which allow parties to compel companies to hand over documents and data before a court case is filed.
If JBS refuses to comply, the campaign group can apply to question senior figures – including the Batista brothers who control the company – under oath in court.
The letter alleges the planned expansion would breach the duty of care doctrine, the same principle Milieudefensie used in its landmark Shell climate case, which requires companies to act in line with international human rights and climate obligations. The doctrine survived an appeal court ruling against Milieudefensie in November 2024, even as judges rejected a specific emissions target for Shell.
From Vivera to the courtroom
JBS already has a substantial foothold in the Netherlands. It bought plant-based meat producer Vivera for €341 million in 2021 and acquired the Vegetarian Butcher from Unilever earlier this year through that subsidiary.
In February, Greenpeace had already targeted law firm Loyens & Loeff over its role in setting up the corporate structure used for the JBS listing.
Marieke Vellekoop, executive director of Greenpeace Netherlands, said the campaign group had promised JBS scrutiny under local law if it brought its “bloody business” here, and was now following through.
In Nigeria, where JBS has agreed with the government to build six meat-processing plants, civil society groups say the company has not published its impact assessments or consulted local communities. JBS has not yet responded to the legal action.
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