This article aims to analyze the legal aspects of the regulatory overview of production and marketing of biodiesel in Brazil in the international context of increasing energy demand, where biofuels emerge as a renewable alternative to fossil fuels. The methodology used in this study is qualitative, with bibliographical and documentary analysis of Brazilian and international legislation. The conclusion reached is that biofuels have great potential to become an important source of energy for the country, in addition to the possibility that they could also help to improve the country's social levels through the development of government programs that address the production of these fuels by family farmers. The contribution of this work arises from the fact that the National Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels Agency (Agência Nacional do Petróleo, Gás Natural e Biocombustíveis (ANP)), the regulatory agency that oversees biodiesel activities in Brazil, focuses on economic aspects as a basis for intervening, especially in consumer protection. As it lies outside of the scope of the regulator, the effective realization of the significant social dimension related to biodiesel requires government action to implement agricultural planning policies suited to each region of the country. This would lend support to the cooperative system. There is also a need for technical and financial support for family farmers in order to raise them to the level of key participants in this context.
Renewable energy; Biofuels; Biodiesel; Brazil
