Argentina: New common meat export regime to the EU, UK and US

In a key decision for the MEAT EXPORT sector, the Ministry of Economy—through the Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries—officially established a unified system for the allocation and management of the main tariff-rate quotas that Argentina administers in the markets of the European Union, the United Kingdom, and the United States . This measure, published in Resolution 242/2025, reorganizes allocation criteria, simplifies procedures, and ensures predictability for future trade cycles.

The new rules cover the traditional Hilton quota, the US   beef quota , buffalo meat quotas , flank steak (frozen cuts), the 481 quota, and the lamb quota. The new system will be in effect from 2026 to 2030, depending on the quota, and consolidates the rules applicable to all these markets into a single legal framework.

Common rules, predictability and digitalization

The text emphasizes that the changes are designed to ensure greater predictability for exporting companies and advance the harmonization of regulations within Mercosur. Evaluation criteria will continue to be based on past performance, i.e., each company's export history—a methodology that, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, has proven effective in achieving high quota utilization rates in recent years.

Participant categories have also been simplified, quota calculation methods have been adjusted, and new maximum and minimum limits have been established. All procedures must be completed digitally through the online procedure system (TAD) and the export quota management system.

Quotas included in the resolution

This document regulates the main tariff quotas under the jurisdiction of the national administration:

• Hilton Quota: 29,389 tonnes of high-quality beef annually for the EU and 111 tonnes for the UK .

• US Quota: 20,000 tons of boneless beef per year.

• EU buffalo quota: 200 tonnes per year.

• Frozen mucus: 700 tonnes annually in the EU.

• Sheep and goats: 19,090 tonnes to the EU and 3,910 tonnes to the UK.

• Quota 481: meat from animals obtained from feedlots with specific eligibility criteria and certification rules.

The new conditions will come into effect after the completion of the current export cycles: 2025/2026 for Hilton and 2025 for the US quota.

Unification of regulations and abolition of old rules.

The resolution repeals provisions from 2009 and 2015, which have become obsolete due to digitalization and the introduction of new procedures. it also approves new models for certificates of authenticity and export certificates, which are a crucial requirement for importing countries, allowing them to identify the origin and quality of products.

Towards a more integrated administration

The Ministry of Agriculture emphasized that this step is key to the Mercosur harmonization process and the preparation of trade agreements with the European Union and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), which are currently undergoing ratification. According to the government, unifying criteria and modernizing systems will allow Argentina to "strengthen its position as a consistent and reliable supplier of high-quality meat."