The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry manages 10 quotas under the Australia-United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement (A-UK FTA), including beef meat.
Australian exporters can export beef meat at a 0% tariff rate under the following quota volumes.
| Year of agreement | Quantity (MT) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 20,616.438 |
| 2 | 43,333 |
| 3 | 51,667 |
| 4 | 60,000 |
| 5 | 68,333 |
| 6 | 76,667 |
| 7 | 85,000 |
| 8 | 93,333 |
| 9 | 101,667 |
| 10 | 110,000 |
Access to the quotas will be administered via a split allocation system and a first come, first served (FCFS) basis until the available quota amount has exhausted.
Exporters can use the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade tariff portal to find the current tariff rate applying to their product and to compare the tariff reduction received under the A-UK FTA.
Key dates to remember
- 1 January - Quota year commences
- 1 November to 16 November – Applications for annual allocation due
- 31 December – Quota year finishes
Current Quota usage
The quota usage tables show the total quantity of quota used by Australia for A-UK FTA products. The tables are updated regularly.
Check out the current quota usage for beef meat
Non-allocation holders
Any exporter that wants to access this quota but does not hold an allocation will have access to 50% of the quota pool for year 1 and year 2 while volumes are available.
In year 3 onwards, this first come, first served pool of quota for non-allocation holders will be determined by the remaining volume following the allocation process, with any non-allocated quota being placed into the first come, first served pool.
The first come, first served pool will be accessible until the available quota amount has been exhausted.
Allocation holders
Allocation holders will have access to 50% of the pool quota in year 1 and year 2 within the initial allocation holders those that held an allocation under the 2022/2023 HQB WTO quota.
In year 3 and beyond, the calculation for allocations will be based on the exporter’s previous quota year shipping history, with the amount of product shipped being the amount of quota allocated in the following year. Volume shipped under quota in the 12-month period of 1 November prior year to 31 October of the current year.
Applications for the allocated quota for the following closes on 16 November each year.
There will be no penalties for unused quota at the end of the quota year. However, allocations for the previous year are based on shipped product only.
2023 quota entitlement holders (updated 31 May 2023)
This listing of current standard quota entitlement holders can be used to check which exporters hold quota, should another exporter wish to approach them for a transfer.
2023 Entitlement holders list
| AUK FTA Beef Meet Entitlement | |
|---|---|
| Exp# | Exporter |
| 514 | JBS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD |
| 207 | OAKEY BEEF EXPORTS PTY LTD |
| 774 | THOMAS FOODS INTERNATIONAL PTY LTD |
| 742 | WARMOLL FOODS PTY LTD |
| 675 | WINGHAM BEEF EXPORTS PTY LTD |
| 643 | THOMAS BORTHWICK & SONS |
| 105 | TEYS AUSTRALIA BEENLEIGH |
| 366 | TEYS AUSTRALIA BILOELA |
| 628 | TEYS AUSTRALIA WAGGA |
| 865 | TEYS AUSTRLAIA MEAT GROUP |
| 2259 | AA COMPANY |
| 992 | TEYS AUSTRALIA NARACOORTE |
Approved commodity codes
Under the FTA there are 22 different approved commodity codes which can be exported under quota. They range from beef carcasses, preserved meat, boneless, frozen and fresh etc. A detailed list of the code descriptions can be provided by the department, or they are listed on the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade website.
Transfer of allocated quota
If existing allocation holders wish to transfer some or all their quota allocation to other exporters, they can do so by completing the Notice to transfer annual quota entitlements form.
Exporters cannot transfer quota between other quotas, for example: WTO and FTA.
Apply for a quota certificate for beef meat
Exporters will need to apply to export beef meat to UK at the reduced tariff rate. If you are an allocation holder, the volume will be deducted from your allocated volume of quota. If you do not hold an allocation, the volume will be deducted from the available first come, first served balance if available.
To apply for a quota certificate an exporter must:
- lodge a request for permit (RFP) through the department’s electronic documentation system, EXDOC
- tick the Quota indicator box, enter the quota year, and write A-UK FTA in quota type.
Once we have approved the application, we will email the quota certificate to the exporter. A-UK FTA quota certificates cannot be amended without the corresponding export documentation amended so if there is a change to the exporter, importer, product type or quantity of the shipment after the certificate has been issued the existing certificate may need to be cancelled and a replacement certificate issued. Contact Quota Admin if there is a change to any details on the certificate.
Note: Quota administration is cost recovered on a per certificate basis in accordance with the Export Charges (Imposition-General) Regulation 2021 and the Export Control (Fees and Payments) Rules 2021.
Exporters are invoiced monthly for any quota certificates issued. The current cost recovered amount is $35 per certificate issued.
Issuing a quota certificate
Under the legislation the department is required to provide a paper-based certificate with an original government stamp and signature for all UK certificates. To comply with this process the department will issue a paper-based certificate and post to the exporter using the standard Australia Post method.
The department will provide the exporter with an electronic copy of the certificate and then post the original to the exporter as this will be required by UK customs.
The department can send certificates to exporters using Express Post through Australia Post if the exporter provides the department with self-addressed envelopes. If an urgent certificate is required to be sent directly overseas this can be done if the exporter provides the department with courier satchels and account details.
If a certificate is required urgently, email the Quota Unit with the RFP/REX number of the consignment that requires a manual certificate. The email must be received by the Quota Unit no later than 10.00am (Canberra time) for same-day processing.
Airfreighting consignments
Airfreight consignments may require urgent documentation and the Quota Unit will endeavour to process these manually if requested.
If an airfreight certificate is required urgently, email the Quota Unit with the RFP number of the consignment that requires a manual certificate. The email must be received by the Quota Unit no later than 1:00pm (Canberra time) for same-day processing.
Processing of same day certificates cannot be guaranteed. Processing and dispatch is dependent on staff availability and couriers. When generated, the certificate will be sent by Express Post or couriered (if courier account details have been provided to the Quota Unit).
Read the detail
Legislation
The Export Control Legislation Amendment (Tariff Rate Quotas) Rules 2022 governs the rules around quotas for beef meat to UK.
Data collection
We report on export quotas using data submitted for certificate applications.
Contact us
Phone: 02 6272 4068
Email: quota.admin@agriculture.gov.au