Date of issue: 2 November 2026
Attention
Sheepmeat and goatmeat exporters, meat industry members, and people and groups with an interest.
Purpose
This Industry Advice Notice (IAN) is to advise stakeholders of the amendments to the Export Control (Tariff Rate Quotas–Sheepmeat and Goatmeat Export to the European Union and United Kingdom) Rules 2021 (Sheepmeat and Goatmeat Rules).
Summary of Key Points
- The department undertook targeted and public consultation on identified areas for improvement to the Sheepmeat and Goatmeat Rules from 24 August to 11 September 2026.
- The amendments include:
- Australia-United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement (A-UKFTA) Sheepmeat tariff rate quota (TRQ)
- Reserving a portion of the A-UKFTA tariff rate quota (TRQ) access amount to be accessed on a first-come, first-served (FCFS) basis during the quota year.
- Exporters who do not have a TRQ entitlement in a quota year will be able to access the FCFS amount, subject to availability.
- 41,667 TN of A-UKFTA Sheepmeat TRQ will continue to be allocated as TRQ entitlements to exporters.
- The amendment to reserve a portion of the access amount as the FCFS pool has effect for quota year beginning on 1 January 2027 and each year thereafter.
- A-UKFTA eligible meat entitlement usage penalties
- The introduction of penalties where less than 90% of an exporter’s allocation is used, transferred or returned during the quota year.
- This amendment aligns the A-UKFTA Sheepmeat TRQ with existing WTO Sheepmeat and Goatmeat TRQ arrangements.
- The amendment to sections 10 and 11 to include penalties has effect for the allocations for the quota year beginning on 1 January 2028 and each year thereafter.
- Annual reclaim and reallocation process
- Bringing forward the annual reclaim and reallocation process from 1 November to 1 October for that quota year.
- This amendment provides exporters more time to use reallocated TRQ before the end of the quota year.
- This amendment applies to United Kingdom (UK) FTA-eligible meat, European Union (EU)-eligible meat and UK WTO-eligible meat and has effect for the quota year beginning on 1 January 2027 and each year thereafter.
- Australia-United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement (A-UKFTA) Sheepmeat tariff rate quota (TRQ)
- The amending legislation instrument commenced on 31 October 2026 and is available at Export Control (Tariff Rate Quotas—Sheepmeat and Goatmeat Export to the European Union and the United Kingdom) Amendment (UK FTA Allocations and Other Measures) Rules 2026 - Federal Register of Legislation
- An explanatory statement has been prepared detailing the specific amendments to the Sheepmeat and Goatmeat Rules and should be read in conjunction with the amending legislation instrument.
Background
The department identified opportunities to improve the administrative and regulatory arrangements for the Sheepmeat and Goatmeat TRQ arrangements.
The department administers the TRQ system which allows for a variety of agricultural products to have reduced tariffs applied at the point of import to several countries. These are administered under the relevant TRQ rules.
The department routinely reviews the Export Control Act 2020 (the Act) and the rules made under the Act (the Export Control Rules) to ensure the legislative framework supporting Australia’s agricultural exports remains relevant and working as intended.
Further information
If you have questions regarding this IAN, please contact the Quota Administration team via quota.admin@aff.gov.au.
Christine Mulhearn
Assistant Secretary
Meat Exports Branch
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry