Meat Industry Welcomes Increased Eu Beef Quota

Meat & Wool New Zealand Chairman Jeff Grant, and Meat Industry Association Chairman Bill Falconer, welcomed the Government’s announcement today that New Zealand’s beef quota to the EU will be substantially expanded.

Minister for Trade Negotiations Jim Sutton announced today that New Zealand’s current quota for high quality beef of 300 tonnes product weight will be expanded to 1,300 tonnes. This represents an increase of more than three times New Zealand’s existing quota access. The existing 20% in-quota tariff for high quality beef will apply.

The increased quota access is a result of the EU’s enlargement in May 2004 to include 10 new European countries and reflects New Zealand’s historic trade in beef with the newly acceded EU members, particularly Malta and Cyprus.

“This is a good outcome for New Zealand exporters” said Mr Grant. “The increased access appropriately recognises New Zealand’s historic beef trade with the new EU members and ensures that New Zealand exporters are not in a less favourable position than they were prior to the EU’s enlargement. The negotiations have been complex and we appreciate the efforts of the Minister and officials in achieving this outcome.”

The Government announced in September that the EU had agreed to allocate a further 1,154 tonnes c.w.e[1] of sheepmeat quota to New Zealand as a result of the enlargement. It is anticipated that the increased quota access for sheepmeat and beef to the EU will be implemented by 1 January 2006.