The renewal comes following a lengthy internal debate within the Soya Working Group, responsible for the implementation of the moratorium.
Paulo Adario, Senior Advisor for Greenpeace International welcomed the decision. "The need to extend the Soya Moratorium is crystal clear. There is no other mechanism in place to keep deforestation from the Amazon out of the soy supply chain. The eighteen months ahead are critical for the Brazilian government to advance governance in the Amazon and for the corporate sector to secure a plan to remove deforestation from their supply chains. said Adario
The Soy Moratorium, established in 2006, monitors 73 municipalities responsible for 98% of the soy produced in the Amazon biome. Only 4.6 percent of all the deforestation that occurred in these areas between 2007 and 2013 (470 km2) was planted with soy. This represents less than 1 percent of all deforestation in the Amazon biome since the moratorium was agreed in 2006. The moratorium is widely credited as a major factor in the reduction of deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon in recent years.
The extension and new expiry date for the moratorium is set to coincide with official deadlines for land registration and compliance with Brazil's new Forest Code, changed amid global controversy in 2012. The law was backed by the country's powerful agribusiness lobby and weakened legislation on forest conservation and land use.
Last year, Brazil announced a 29 percent increase in deforestation, a break in the steady decline in deforestation of years past. Many experts attributed expansion of deforestation in the Amazon in 2013 to the new Forest Code.
"The extension of the moratorium for 18 months gives traders, producers and the Brazilian government enough time to ensure the production of agricultural commodities does not contribute to deforestation." added Adario
Greenpeace will continue to fight for Zero deforestation as it strives to prevent catastrophic climate change - the two major threats to the planet's largest remaining rainforest.
Contacts:
Jessica Miller, Greenpeace International Communications +1 646 309 5023
Rosana Villar and Bruno Weis, Greenpeace Brazil Communications - +55 11 984723579 and +55 1192 8114-4516
Greenpeace International Pressdesk: +31 (0)20 718 2470 - email: 
Notes:
On July 24th 2006, ABIOVE and ANEC (National Association of Cereals Exporters) announced a two-year moratorium on buying soya from newly deforested areas in the Amazon or from farmers using indentured or forced labourers. That agreement has been renewed regularly and was set to expire in January 2015. The moratorium followed an investigation by Greenpeace that proved that soya cultivation had become a new threat to the Amazon. A Soya Working Group (GTS) including ABIOVE, ANEC, soya traders, NGOs and social organisations was established in October 2006 to ensure the implementation of the moratorium.
A European alliance of soya consumer companies, led by McDonald's, which includes Carrefour, Nestle, Tesco, Ahold, Marks & Spencer, Waitrose and Sainsbury's called for the extension of the moratorium beyond January 2014 and were prepared to renew their commitment to remaining actively engaged in the GTS.
ABIOVE and ANEC members, including major commodities giants Cargill, Bunge, ADM, Dreyfus and the Brazilian-based Amaggi are responsible for more than 90% of the Brazilian soya trade.