Australia receives new duty-free EU beef quota

Australia has been granted access to the EU's high-quality beef market without having to pay duties.

The Australian government said access was granted under the EU's new tariff quota for high quality beef.

High-quality beef exports from Australia had faced a 20% duty in Europe but the new market access pact allows Australian beef to enter duty free.

Australian agriculture minister Tony Burke, said they have worked with the EU over the past few months, detailing Australia's quality control and inspection system and ensuring that the measures and processes meet EU standards.

Australia's current total beef exports to the EU exceed A$136 million (US$124 million), or about 11,000 tonnes annually.

The quota, which became available in August last year, provides for an additional global supply of 20,000 tonnes a year of high quality beef into the EU.

Access to the EU market comes at a time when a strong Australian dollar has put pressure on the country's beef exports.

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