July 29, 2011

The EU has permitted a quota for high-quality grain-fed beef from New Zealand into the countries, said Beef + Lamb New Zealand Chairman, Mike Petersen.

New Zealand already has a quota of 1,300 tonnes for pasture-fed beef and this new access to a grain-fed quota will broaden New Zealand's beef offering to the high-value European market, Petersen said.

Improved market access globally for beef is one of the industry's top priorities, and beef remains one of the most protected traded meat products in New Zealand, he said, adding that this puts the country alongside US, Canada and Australia as the only supplying countries under this quota.

"Although this quota is for a niche product with low volumes but high value, the access is tariff free which makes it very attractive compared to the 20% tariff that applies to our other European high-quality beef quota," Petersen said.