How it Works
New Zealand origin beef and veal products can be exported to the United States at the following quantities, subject to the specified tariffs.
| Product type | Beef & Veal (CN codes 0201 and 0202) |
| Annual quota amount | 213,402 tonnes (product weight) |
| Quota Year | 1 January – 31 December |
| In-quota tariff rate | US4.4c/kg on most beef products |
| Out-of-quota tariff rate | 26.4% |
Some quick definitions:
“Qualifying Product” is beef and veal from livestock slaughtered in a USDA Listed Premises. It is measured as dressed carcass hot weight.
“At Time of Slaughter” is a figurative term, referring to when the semi-dressed carcase crosses the scales and ownership changes from the farmer to the buyer/quota holder/qualifying company.
“Production Seasons” are one year commencing the nearest Sunday to 1 October, and ending the nearest Saturday to 30 September in the following calendar year.
"New Entrant" is a company that is an exporter registered under the Meat Board Act 2004, and during the three years prior to the applicable New Entry Period has not been allocated and used General Quota Allowance.
Who is quota allocated to?
There are two categories of recipients: Qualifying Companies and New Entrants.
Qualifying Companies hold export registration and have been the Owners of Qualifying Product at Time of Slaughter, over any of the three preceding Production Seasons.
New Entrants are companies that:
- Holds an export registration.
- Are a New Entrant as defined in Section 2 of the Quota Manual.
How is quota allocated?
Ninety-eight per cent of the quota is allocated as General Quota Allowance to Qualifying Companies. It is allocated to companies according to their share of the sum of all companies’ Production Histories for the preceding three Production Seasons.
The remaining 2% is reserved for allocation on a first come first served, certificate by certificate basis for New Entrants, up to a maximum of 30% of the New Entrant Allocation, per New Entrant.
Acquiring and selling quota
A holder of General Quota Allowance may transfer all or part of its quota allowance for the relevant Quota Year to a holder of an export registration. A transfer form must be completed and signed by authorised signatories of both the Transferor and the Transferee and submitted to the Board.
The transfer takes effect when confirmed by the Board.
Download Transfer of US Beef and Veal Quota Allowance form below.
Acquiring and selling Production History
A holder of Production History may transfer all or part of its Production History for a given Production Season to a Qualifying Company or a New Entrant.
The transfer will be valid for any future Quota Years in terms of the General Quota Allowance Allocation formula after the Production History transfer has been approved by the Board.
Complete and sign the Transfer form and submit to the Board.
Download Transfer of US Beef and Veal Production History form below.
Quota allowance application closing dates
| General Quota Allowance applications close | 15 October |
| New Entrant | Anytime during the quota year |
Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ) certificates
Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ) Certificates are required for product to be imported within the terms of the TRQ.
Completed TRQ certificates showing the details of the consignment must be submitted by the exporter to the Board for authorisation.
On receipt of the authorised TRQ certificate, it is then the responsibility of the exporter to forward the TRQ certificate to the importer.