The European Union has granted Australia market access to its new EU Tariff Quota for high quality beef.
The duty-free quota, which first became available in August last year, provides for an additional global supply of 20,000 tonnes of high quality beef into the EU each year.

The Australian Government has worked with the Australian beef industry to ensure that the country could meet the quota requirements.

Trade Minister Simon Crean and Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Tony Burke say the announcement is good news for Australian beef exporters as only countries approved by the EU can supply beef under the quota.

“We have worked cooperatively with the EU over the past few months, detailing our quality control and inspection regimes and ensuring our measures and processes meet the EU’s requirements,” Burke says.

He points out the high Australian dollar has put pressure on beef exports so the improvement in market access is “a win for Australian farmers at a critical time”.

High quality beef exports face a 20% duty in Europe – but under this new market access agreement Australian beef will enter duty free.

Crean says the result reinforces the benefits of resisting protectionist trade pressures and the extra market access that can be achieved for Australian producers.

High quality beef is a niche product, requiring cattle to be fed on a strict diet.

The US is the only other country to have been granted access to the quota.

Australia’s current total beef exports to the EU exceed $A136 million or 11,000t annually. Australian exports of high quality beef under the quota are expected to begin in the first quarter of this year.