Rodeo Laws
Rodeio, esporte reconhecido por Lei Federal
Rodeo in Brazil is a sports activity that was made regular by Federal Law N°10519 in 2002. Since then the law which became known as the “Rodeo Law” established general rules relative to the sport of rodeo. The rodeo cowboy was also recognized as a professional athlete through Law N° 10.220 from the 11th of April 2001.
With this, the rodeo professional not only became recognized by law, he also won rights that were being followed in the biggest rodeos. With these laws, rodeos had an obligation to be strict with animal welfare.
LAW PROJECT N° 135, August 26th 2010
REGULATES THE NORMS FOR THE HOLDING OF RODEOS WITHIN THE BOUNDS OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF BARRETOS AND PROVIDES FOR OTHER MEASURES.
THE MAYOR OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF BARRETOS, STATE OF SÃO PAULO
Let it be known that the Municipal Town-Council approves, and I sanction, the following Law: :
ARTICLE 1. The holding of animal rodeos within the bounds of the Municipality of Barretos will comply with the general norms of this Law, without prejudice of the Federal and State legislations.
Paragraph. Activities considered in animal rodeos are those which involve riding and timed events, in which the ability of the athlete to dominate the animal with expertise is evaluated, as well as the performance of the animal itself.
ARTICLE 2. Any activities involving roping and/or “vaquejada” (a typical event which involves pursuit of cattle) are forbidden.
ARTICLE 3. Legitimate vaccination certificates for Foot and Mouth Disease and Brucellosis are required for the entry of all bovine and buffalo species, and legitimate certificates for Infectious Equine Anemia are required for the entry of all horses to the site of the rodeo.
§1° - Any rodeo animals that may show any signs of disease, physical disability or wounds which may prevent the animal from being ridden during the event will not be allowed entry.
§2° - A veterinarian must be present to evaluate all animals used in the event and to check all documentation, and it is this person's responsibility to communicate any irregularities to the public authorities and the organizers of the event.
ARTICLE 4. It will be the responsibility of the promoting entity of the rodeo, at its own expense, to provide:
I – inspection of animal transport on arrival at the event, for which appropriate vehicles which offer comfort to the animal should be used, and overloading will not be permitted;
II – control in order to ensure arrival of the animals at the Municipality with a minimum of six hours before the event, and the placing of the animals in conveniently prepared resting areas;
III – loading and unloading ramps wide and high enough to prevent any animals from getting bruised or hurt;
IV – complete medical infrastructure with an ambulance on site with a First Aid team, with the mandatory presence of a General Practitioner;
V – a licensed veterinarian responsible for guaranteeing good physical and health conditions of all animals and for overseeing that disciplinary norms are followed, thus preventing any ill treatment of or injury to the animals;
VI – a competition arena and chutes built with resistant material, with a minimum height of 2 metres with a flooring of sand or any other impact reducing material should any animal, competitor or rider fall;
VII – fresh food and water for animals during their stay, according to the instructions of the licensed veterinarian, as well as after the event is over;
VIII – removal of all animals after the competitions are over, it not being permitted for any animals to stay in the corrals near the arena chutes;
IX – the handling and moving of the animals with an electric rod will only be permitted if done by the veterinarian or the keeper under supervision of the veterinarian, the use of hooks, sticks or rubbers not being permitted;
X – appropriate lighting in all locations used by the animals, under the veterinarians orientation; and
XII – in the events where bulls are to be used, a pick up man with a rope should be present and in the events where horses are used, at least two pick up men should be present, for the safety of the competitor.
ARTICLE 5. The rigging and technical equipment used for the rides should not cause harm or injury to the animals and should obey the rules established by the promoting entity, following internationally accepted rules.
§1° - Only the use of a woollen flank strap shall be allowed, and any other material, even if covered, shall be forbidden, and all belts, cinches and belly-straps should be made of natural wool in dimensions adequate to guarantee the comfort of the animal;
§2° - The spurs used by the competitors shall be supplied by the promoting entity, under the supervision of the veterinarian and chute inspectors, and the use of any sharp rowels or any other instrument that may harm the animal is forbidden.
ARTICLE 6. The promoting entity must communicate the holding of the competitions to the Municipal Agriculture and Environment Secretariat at least 30 days prior to the event, providing proof that they are apt to promote the event following the established norms, with the following measures:
I – a written request with all details relative to the event, consisting of the qualification and proof of legal and fiscal regularity;
II – indication of the person responsible for the promoting entity and of the veterinarian who will supervise the event;
III – proof of legal insurance against any accidents that might happen to consumers attending the event;
IV – proof that the event is being held in accordance with the specific state legislation
ARTICLE 7. As well as all arrangements and requirements established in the present Law, the promoting entity should prove compliance with the dispositions of Federal Law N°10.220 of 11th of April 2001, and especially:
I – only allow the participation of competitors who are properly contracted, and with the listing being filed for possible inspection;
II – in the case of contracted riders who are over 16 years of age and under 18 years of age the consent of the legal representative or guardian is necessary;
III – the taking out of life and personal accident insurance in favour of the riders, competitors, ropers, rodeo clowns, pick up men, judges, announcers, gate hands and helpers, all of whom work in the arena, with a minimum value of R$200.000,00 (two hundred thousand reais), which insurance policy must provide indemnity for permanent disability or death occurring within the interval of their normal days work; end
IV – this insured amount must be reassessed each year using as a base the official inflation index.
ARTICLE 8. In case of any breaches of this Law, without prejudice to the penalty of a fine of upto R$50.000,00 (fifty thousand reais) and other penalties foreseen in specific legislation, the Municipal Agriculture and Environment Secretariat may apply the following sanctions:
I – a written warning;
II – temporary suspension of the rodeo; and
III – definitive suspension of the rodeo.
ARTICLE 9. This Law is valid as of the date of its publication
THE OFFICE OF THE MAYOR OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF BARRETOS, State of São Paulo, August 26th 2010.
EMANOEL MARIANO CARVALHO
Municipal Mayor
LAW N°10.519, 17TH OF JULY 2002
Regulates the promotion and fiscalization of animal health defence during the holding of rodeos, and other measures.
THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC Let it be known that the National Congress decrees, and I sanction, the following Law:
ARTICLE 1. The realization of animal rodeos will comply with the general norms contained in this Law.
Paragraph. Activities considered in animal rodeos are those which involve riding, timed events and roping events, in which the ability of the athlete to dominate the animal with expertise is evaluated, as well as the performance of the animal itself.
ARTICLE 2. General dispositions relative to animal health defense are to be applied at the rodeos including vaccination certificates for Foot and Mouth disease and for the control of Infectious Equine Anemia.
ARTICLE 3. It will be the promoting entity's responsibility to provide, at it's own expense:
I – a complete medical infrastructure with an on-duty ambulance on site with a First Aid team and the mandatory presence of a General Practitioner;
II – a licensed veterinarian responsible for guaranteeing good physical and health conditions of all animals and for overseeing compliance with disciplinary norms, preventing ill treatment of and injury to the animals;
III – appropriate vehicles for the transportation of the animals and an infrastructure that guarantees the animals' physical integrity upon their arrival, accommodation and feeding;
IV - a competition arena and chutes built with resistant material and flooring of sand or any other impact reducing material should any animal or competitor fall.
ARTICLE 4. The rigging and technical equipment used for the rides should not cause harm or injury to the animals and should comply with the norms established by the rodeo's representative entity, in accordance with internationally accepted rules.
§1° The belts, cinches and belly-straps should be made with natural wool with dimensions adequate enough to ensure the comfort of the animals.
§2° The use of spurs with sharp rowels or any other instrument which may cause injury to the animal, including any instrument which causes an electric shock are expressly forbidden.
§3° Ropes used for the roping events must have an impact reducing mechanism for the animal.
ARTICLE 5. The entity promoting the rodeo must communicate the holding of the event to the competent State entity at least 30 days prior to the event, providing proof that it is are apt to promote the event following established legal norms and denoting the veterinarian in charge.
ARTICLE 6. The promoting entity must take out life and permanent or temporary disability insurance in favour of the rodeo professionals, which includes the riders, pick up men, rodeo clowns, gate hands, judges and announcers.
ARTICLE 7. In case of any breaches of this Law, without prejudice to the penalty of a fine of up to R$5,320.00 (five thousand three hundred and twenty reais) and other penalties foreseen in specific legislations, the competent State entity may apply the following sanctions:
I – a written warning;
II – temporary suspension of the rodeo;
III – definitive suspension of the rodeo.
ARTICLE 8. This Law comes into force 60 days after its publication.
Brasília, 17th of July 2002;
181st Year of Independence and 114th of the Republic.
FERNANDO HENRIQUE CARDOSO
Marcus Vinicius Pratini de Moraes
José Carlos Carvalho
This text does not substitute that published by the D.O.U - Official Journal of the Union of 18.07.2002.
LAW N°10.220 of the 11th of April 2001
Establishes general norms relative to the activities of rodeo cowboys, equating them to professional athletes.
THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC Let it be known that the National Congress decrees, and I sanction, the following Law:
ARTICLE 1. The rodeo cowboy, whose activity consists in the participation, by way of a payment established by legal contract, in events of dexterity taking place on the back of horses or bulls, in tournaments promoted by public or private entities, will be considered as a professional athlete.
Paragraph. Rodeo events are understood to be bull and horse riding events, “vaquejadas” (a typical event which involves pursuit of cattle) and roping events, promoted by public or private entities, as well as other equivalent professional activities organized by athletes and entities of this sporting genre.
ARTICLE 2. The contract established between the promoter of the rodeo event and the rodeo cowboy, mandatorily in writing, must include:
I – the qualifications of each contracting party;
II – the period contracted, which shall be for a minimum of 4 days and a maximum of 2 years;
III – the manner and form of payment, specifying the basic value, prizes, gratifications and, when foreseen, the bonuses, and any additional payments previously agreed upon;
IV – penalties for failure to honour the contract or breaking the contract unilaterally.
§1° It is the obligation of the promoting entity to arrange for the taking out of life and accident insurance in favour of the rodeo cowboy, including indemnity in the event of death or permanent disability, to the minimum amount of R$100.000, 00 (one hundred thousand reais), this amount to be reassessed every period of 12 months counting from the date of the publication of this Law and using as a base the “Taxa Referencial de Juros TR” or TR Reference Interest Rate.
§2° The promoting entity which is in arrears with the payment of its athletes for a period of 3 months or more, will be prevented from participating in any further competition, either official or friendly.
§3° The insurance policy referred to in §1° must also foresee the reimbursement of all medical and hospital expenses incurred as a result any eventual accident that the rodeo cowboy may suffer during the interval of his normal working day, irrespective of the length of time in hospital, or any medications and therapy that may be necessary.
Art. 3º O contrato estipulará, conforme os usos e costumes de cada região, o início e o término normal da jornada de trabalho, que não poderá exceder a oito horas por dia.
ARTICLE 3. The contract shall stipulate, depending on the customs and practices of the region involved, the times of starting and finishing of each working day, and which shall not exceed 8 hours daily.
ARTICLE 4. The signing of a contract for those older than 16 years and younger than 21 years will require the express consent of the requisite legal representative or guardian.
Paragraph. The signing of a contract for those older than 18 years of age, in the event of failure to obtain consent of the legal representative or guardian, may be done directly by each contracting party, subject to the requisite judicial subsidy to the agreement.
Art. 5º (VETADO)
Art. 6º (VETADO)
ARTICLE 7. This Law is valid as of the day of its publication.
Brasília, 11th of April 2001
180th Year of Independence and 113th of the Republic.
FERNANDO HENRIQUE CARDOSO