“Schemes” Shut Down: Ministry of Agriculture Explains Why Not All Exporters Gained Access to Meat Exports

The Ministry of Agriculture has issued an official clarification regarding the new rules for beef exports that came into force on December 31, 2025. While the technical aspects of the regulation — namely, linking export quotas to the capacity of feedlots — had been known previously, the ministry has now revealed the economic rationale behind the strict restrictions. The primary objective is to cleanse the market of speculative intermediaries.

The ministry openly acknowledged that the previous export model allowed companies with no real involvement in production to generate profits. These included small slaughterhouses and intermediary firms that were essentially engaged in resale operations.

The scheme functioned as follows: intermediaries purchased livestock from the population, carried out slaughter, and immediately exported the meat, bypassing the stages of feedlot development and investment in their own production base.

“Such a scheme created opportunities for speculative intermediation and distorted the real balance of supply and demand, becoming one of the factors driving up domestic prices,” the Ministry of Agriculture emphasized.

According to the regulator, these practices were among the drivers of inflation in the domestic meat market. The new rules are designed to completely exclude such players from the foreign trade chain.

From now on, only full-cycle producers will receive an “entry ticket” to external markets. Explaining the quota mechanism, the ministry noted that it is aimed at supporting those who:

• invest in infrastructure;

• implement technologies;

• create jobs;

• ensure deep processing of products.

Thus, the requirement to have one’s own feedlot is no longer a formal condition, but a guarantee that the exporter is genuinely investing in livestock production rather than merely exploiting price differentials.

In addition to supporting large producers, the measures pursue a strategic goal — ensuring food security. Eliminating unnecessary intermediaries should make price formation more transparent and predictable.

The ministry also expects that the new rules will help establish accurate sectoral statistics and ensure full traceability of meat origin, which had previously been difficult due to the large number of “grey” dealers.

It should be recalled that quota distribution will be carried out centrally. This will allow government authorities to respond flexibly to market conditions: if shortages arise in the domestic market, priority will be given to local consumers.