The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry manages 10 quotas under the Australia-United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement (A-UK FTA), including sheepmeat.
Australian exporters can export sheepmeat at a 0% tariff rate under the following quota volumes.
| Year | Quantity (MT) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 14,726.027 |
| 2 | 30,556 |
| 3 | 36,111 |
| 4 | 41,667 |
| 5 | 47,222 |
| 6 | 52,778 |
| 7 | 58,333 |
| 8 | 63,889 |
| 9 | 69,444 |
| 10 | 75,000 |
Access to the quotas will be administered via an allocation system 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 both the A-UK FTA agreements.
Key dates to remember
- 1 January - Quota year commences
- 31 October – Last day to return, retain allocation
- 16 November – Applications for annual allocation are 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 UK sheepmeat.
Allocation Holders
Allocations of entitlements are available to exporters based on prior shipping history. The department will allocate 100% of the available volume within a quota year unless the previous quota year has utilised over 95% of the total annual volume. In this event, the department will limit the following quota years allocations to 95% to avoid triggering the safeguard provisions within the A-UK FTA.
The calculations for allocations take into account quantity of sheepmeat shipped using market specific performance and global shipments. Invitations to apply for the quota are sent to eligible exporters on the basis of shipping history prior to the start of the quota year.
The administration of the allocation pool is via an application process before the start of the quota year. For year 1 and 2 the calculation will be based on the performance from the 2021 WTO sheepmeat quota. Year 3 and beyond the calculation will be based on the previous quota years amount of product shipped.
In October of each year the department will run a reallocation process where allocation holders can return quota they don’t intend to use, retain quota they will use, or request more allocation for the remainder of the year.
Applications for allocated quota for the following year close on 16 November each year.
2025 quota entitlement holders (updated 10 February 2025)
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.
UK Sheep entitlement
| Exp # | Exporter |
|---|---|
| 133 | FLETCHER INTL EXPORTS PTY LTD |
| 496 | WAMMCO INTERNATIONAL |
| 514 | JBS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD |
| 731 | SOUTHERN MEATS PTY LTD |
| 774 | THOMAS FOODS INTERNATIONAL PTY LTD |
| 836 | AUSTRALIAN LAMB CO PTY LTD |
| 863 | STELLA FOODS |
| 892 | MIDFIELD MEAT INTERNATIONAL |
| 914 | WESTERN MEAT EXPORTERS |
| 2277 | WAGSTAFF CRANBOURNE PTY LTD |
| 6131 | CEDAR MEATS (AUST) PTY LTD |
| 2116 | INTER AGRI GROUP PTY LTD |
| 0490 | SAMEX AUSTRALIA MEAT CO |
| 0258 | LUTTICK AUSTRALIA PTY LTD |
| 0860 | CM COMPANY |
| 2139 | MIDFIELD COMMODITIES |
| 1099 | THE GAME MEATS CO OF AUSTRALIA |
| 2140 | WHITESTRIPE FOODS |
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, this must be done before the end of the 7 November.
Exporters cannot transfer quota between other quotas, for example: WTO and A-UK FTA.
Apply for a quota certificate for sheepmeat
Exporters will need to apply to export sheepmeat to the UK at the reduced tariff rate.
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.
A-UK FTA quota certificates cannot be amended without the corresponding export documentation being 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 $36 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 sheepmeat to the UK.
Data collection
We report on export quotas using data submitted for certificate applications.
Contact us
Phone: 02 6272 4068
Email: quota.admin@aff.gov.au