0 · Verdict
Amber · duty being phased outThe product can be exported with the agreement's preference. The duty today is 13.2% instead of 16.6%, and it reaches zero on 1 January 2030.
Recommended action: make sure origin can be proven and that the importer claims the preference in the customs declaration. And see block 7 (EUDR may apply; the product needs checking).
Other prepared or preserved meat › Corned beef, in airtight containers (CN 1602 50 31) pays 13.2% EU duty today under the EU-Mercosur Agreement, instead of 16.6% without it. It reaches zero on 1 January 2030. There is no quota, so the reduction applies to any quantity. Data as of 30 October 2026, from the EU-Mercosur Interim Trade Agreement and the Combined Nomenclature 2026.
1 · Classification
The product in the three nomenclatures
This sheet is built on the EU tariff line 1602 50 31, which is the code the importer declares in the European Union. In Argentina it corresponds to NCM 1602.50.00. The classification should be confirmed by a customs broker.
| Nomenclature | Code | Version | Official description |
|---|---|---|---|
| NCM (Argentina) | 1602.50.00 | NCM in force 2026 | De la especie bovina |
| CN (European Union) | 1602 50 31 | CN 2026 (annex in CN 2013: 1602 50 31) | Of bovine animals: other: corned beef, in airtight containers |
| HS (worldwide) | 1602.50 | Harmonized System | Other prepared or preserved meat, meat offal, blood or insects |
2 · Duty and schedule
The duty today and when it reaches zero
The preferential duty today is 13.2%. The MFN duty, without the agreement, is 16.6%. It reaches zero on 1 January 2030. On the Argentine side, the export duty today is 2.25% (Decree 526/2025).
Next step down. On 1 January 2027 the duty goes down from 13.2% to 9.9% (stage 2 of 5). It reaches zero on 1 January 2030. Add it to your calendar (.ics) · Everything that changes on 1 January
- Today 13.2%
- Next step down · 1 January 2027 9.9%
- Reaches zero · 1 January 2030
- Without the agreement 16.6%
Importing this product from Europe into Argentina
The agreement also lowers what Argentina charges on European goods. Appendix 2-A-2 mirrors the one used in the rest of this sheet. It sets the duty Argentina charges on EU goods entering the country, and lowers it on the same timetable. For an EU supplier selling this product to Argentina, this is the duty that applies.
Import sheet, laid out for buyers sourcing from Europe
| Annex line (NCM 2012) | Base rate | Category | Reaches zero |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1602.50.00 Preparaciones alimenticias y conservas, de la especie bovina Declared today as 1602.50.00 · Same code, unchanged | 16% | 0 | from the start of the agreement (1 May 2026) |
How this line was reached. The annex writes its list in NCM 2012, while imports are declared in the edition in force. This line did not change between the two editions (the official correlation tables do not list it). All of this covers only the duty. If the purchase falls within a quota, an import licence is also needed (it is below, in the authorisations block). What other Argentine agencies require for entry is below, as the VUCE publishes it. Which ones apply depends on the SIM subdivision declared, set by the customs broker.
Argentine agencies involved in the import
The duty comes from the agreement, the rest is required by each agency. The VUCE assigns 4 interventions of other agencies to the import of this position. Each one is shown with the agency’s own text, in Spanish and unabridged, and with the conditions under which it applies. Several only apply in certain cases (wooden packaging, used goods, goods for consumption), and each one says so. Where the origin changes something, each one also states what applies to goods from the EU.
To import and sell in Argentina
- SENASAEmbalajes de Madera de Importación*Customs regime: definitive/temporary · Goods: newFor goods from the European Union: It is the same for any origin: it covers all wooden packaging entering the country. Source: SENASA Resolution 614/2015.Todos los embalajes de madera de mercaderías que ingresen al territorio argentino debe estar descortezado, libre de insectos y/o signos de actividad biológica, tratado y certificado en concordancia con lo estipulado en la Norma Internacional para Medidas Fitosanitarias (NIMF N° 15) de la Convención Internacional de Protección Fitosanitaria.When it applies: La mercadería es acondicionada con embalajes de madera o madera de acomodación.
The agency's text (in Spanish)
Mandatory - SENASAImportación de Productos de Origen AnimalCustoms regime: definitive · Goods: newFor goods from the European Union: It is still required, and the health requirement depends on the country: SENASA sets it for each import according to the risk of the country, the product and the destination, and writes it into the import authorisation, valid for one year. The plant must be approved by the veterinary authority of the country of origin, and each consignment travels with the original health certificate of that authority, which must match the authorisation and be in Spanish or translated by a sworn translator. The certificate model is requested from SENASA: its public query covers only live animals and reproductive material. Source: SENASA Resolution 816/2002, Annex III, points 1, 2, 8, 9 and 24.El trámite permite solicitar autorización para importar productos, subproductos y alimentos para animales.When it applies: Productos, subproductos, derivados de origen animal y alimentos terminados para animales de compañíaIn 1602.50.00, only for SIM subdivisions 1602.50.00.110P, 1602.50.00.120T, 1602.50.00.130W, 1602.50.00.150C, 1602.50.00.190Q, 1602.50.00.920L and 1 more.
The agency's text (in Spanish)
Mandatory - Subsecretaría de AmbienteCertificado de importación exportación o reexportación de trofeos de fauna de cazaCustoms regime: definitive · Goods: newSe informa que para iniciar este trámite el solicitante debe estar inscripto en los registros que a tal fin tiene la Dirección de Fauna y Conservación de la Biodiversidad. Una vez que se le apruebe el presente certificado, el solicitante deberá generar en SENASA la autorización sanitaria correspondiente. Más información en www.ambiente.gob.ar/ambienteWhen it applies: Solo especies (ejemplares o partes de estos) de fauna silvestre (provenientes del medio natural o cautiverio), y especies incluidas en los apéndices de la CITES. Se exceptúan las especies domesticadas.
The agency's text (in Spanish)
Mandatory
Optional: tools, not requirements
- Secretaría de Industria, Comercio y de la Pequeña y Mediana EmpresaSolicitud Resolución Anticipada de OrigenCustoms regime: definitive · Goods: new/usedWhen it applies: El origen de las mercaderías determina, principalmente, el tratamiento arancelario aplicable a su importación. La Resolución Anticipada de Origen (RAO) permite al importador conocer, antes de llevar adelante sus respectivas importaciones, qué origen va a considerar el Estado Argentino a los fines de aplicar el tratamiento arancelario.
The agency's text (in Spanish)
Optional
Source: VUCE, tariff position finder, checked on 6 October 2026. Agencies change their interventions often, so each one links the VUCE page it comes from, to be checked on the day of import.
Year-by-year table and how it is calculated
| From | Stage | Ad valorem | Specific (€) | Applies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 May 2026 | 1 of 5 (year 0) | 13.2% | — | Preferential |
| 1 January 2027 | 2 of 5 | 9.9% | — | Preferential |
| 1 January 2028 | 3 of 5 | 6.6% | — | Preferential |
| 1 January 2029 | 4 of 5 | 3.3% | — | Preferential |
| 1 January 2030 | 5 of 5 | 0% | — | Duty-free |
How it is calculated. Category 4 eliminates the duty in 5 equal stages: the first on 1 May 2026 and the others each 1 January. This is stage 1 of 5, so 80% of the base rate is paid. It reaches zero on 1 January 2030.
Additional refund. Certified organic products, products bearing the Alimentos Argentinos una elección natural seal and products with a registered designation of origin or geographical indication get an additional 0.5% (Decree 1341/2016, Arts. 3 to 5, maintained by Art. 11 of Decree 557/2023). They do not add up: a product that meets more than one condition still gets 0.5% (Resolution 90-E/2017, Art. 9), and each condition is proven with a certificate per shipment (Arts. 1 and 2).
On the Argentine side. Today's export duty is set by Decree 526/2025, Art. 1 and Annex (IF-2025-82604367-APN-SSMAEII#MEC), and it is the rate the VUCE applies (checked on 17 October 2026).
A separate regime. Para la categoría vaca (excepto animales vivos) cuya codificación sea A, B, C, D o E según el Anexo III de la Resolución 32/2018 de la ex Secretaría de Gobierno de Agroindustria, el derecho de exportación es 0 %: Decreto 697/2024, art. 2, que el Decreto 526/2025 mantiene en su art. 2. El artículo no se limita a la carne de las partidas 0201 y 0202: alcanza a esta mercadería si se puede acreditar que proviene de animales de esa categoría y codificación.
Duty savings calculator
EU import duty is calculated on the customs value, which in practice is the CIF value (goods plus freight and insurance to the EU port). Enter what you export in a year, in euros or in dollars.
Year by year, until it reaches zero
At these amounts, from this year to 2030 you save €48,867 in total. From 1 January 2030 it enters duty-free and you save €16,600 a year.
| Year | Saving that year | Cumulative | Duty | You pay with the agreement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026today8 months | €2,267 | €2,267 | 13.2% | €8,800 |
| 2027 | €6,700 | €8,967 | 9.9% | €9,900 |
| 2028 | €10,000 | €18,967 | 6.6% | €6,600 |
| 2029 | €13,300 | €32,267 | 3.3% | €3,300 |
| 2030 | €16,600 | €48,867 | Duty-free | €0 |
Each row assumes you export the amounts entered every year and that the MFN duty stays as it is today, though the EU may change it.
Year 0 of the agreement runs from 1 May 2026 to 31 December 2026, so it counts 8 of the 12 months of the amounts entered.
Only have the FOB value? Estimate the customs value
The EU customs value is, in practice, the CIF value (FOB plus freight and insurance to the EU port). Enter the three amounts and carry the result up.
Estimated customs value: €4,500
3 · Tariff-rate quota and access
This line has no tariff-rate quota
The agreement opens no tariff-rate quota (TRQ) for this line. The preference therefore applies to every shipment, with no volume limit and no quota procedure.
Where to check it
- Section B of Annex 2-A lists the 23 quotas the European Union opens for Mercosur. None covers this line.
| Period | Volume | Status |
|---|
If the product may fall under one of them, write to us and we will review it.
4 · Rules of origin
Whether the product qualifies as originating
To benefit from the preference the product has to be originating. The applicable rule is the one for 16.01 – 16.05, which requires that all the conditions it lists be met at the same time, not just one. Answer the questions to see whether the product qualifies.
Materials questionnaire
Only the questions the case needs are shown. The result applies the Annex 3-B rule for this line.
Check the materials one by one with the origin assistant, with their tariff code and their share of the price.
The rule as published, the tolerance and the proof of origin
The rule, as published in the agreement: «CC, provided that all the materials of Chapters 2 and 3 used are wholly obtained»
Tolerance. Article 3.5 tolerates materials that do not meet the rule up to 10% of the ex-works price.
Cumulation. The agreement allows bilateral cumulation: originating materials of the other Party count as originating (Chapter 3 of the iTA).
How it is proven. Origin is proven with the exporter's statement on origin (Annex 3-C). At the start, the transitional certificate of origin of Annex 3-D also applies (notice 2026/875).
Edition. Annex 3-B is written in the 2017 Harmonized System and this sheet uses the edition in force. At four and six digits they almost always match. If the product changed heading between editions, the rule should be confirmed with the customs broker.
For now the certificate of origin is still accepted. Until 1 May 2029 the European Union also accepts the traditional certificate of origin, besides the exporter's own statement on origin. In the Spanish text: «Durante un período no superior a 3 (tres) años a partir de la fecha de entrada en vigor del presente Acuerdo, la Unión Europea aceptará también como declaración de origen un «certificado de origen» que indique que los productos importados en la Unión Europea cumplen los requisitos de origen establecidos en el presente Acuerdo.» (iTA, Annex 3-D, paragraph 1). The period may be extended by 2 more years at Mercosur's request.
5 · Health, technical and labelling requirements
What the product must meet to enter the EU
The product is on the list of goods the European Union controls at the border, so it enters through a border control post and with an official certificate. It is a procedure to complete, not a prohibition, but without it the consignment is not cleared, even at zero duty. This product class has 42 protected European names, names that cannot be used in the European Union. The Commission's portal (Access2Markets) assigns 7 EU product requirements to this line (technical, labelling or marketing rules). It assigns them to the whole line, and the table lists each one with its act and the link to check whether it applies to the product.
- SPSOfficial control at an EU border control postConfirmedmust be met before shipmentThe consignment must enter through an approved border control post, be pre-notified in TRACES with a common health entry document (CHED) and travel with the official certificate that applies. The annex narrows it as follows: «Todas. Comprende las conservas de carne en formas diversas.»
- Where it is handledTRACES NT · EU consignment control systemConfirmedprocedureThe consignment is notified here before it arrives, and the certificate is issued by SENASA on the Argentine side.
- Name · EU GI42 protected European names in this product classConfirmedthere are names that cannot be usedThis position falls in the class Carne, pescado y sus preparados, which the annex defines by code. Those names cannot be used in the European Union, not even with «type», «style» or «imitation». For example, Holsteiner Katenschinken / Holsteiner Schinken / Holsteiner Katenrauchschinken / Holsteiner Knochenschinken, Nürnberger Bratwürste; Nürnberger Rostbratwürste, Schwarzwälder Schinken, Tiroler Speck, Jambon d'Ardenne, Pâté gaumais, among others. Search the name used to sell the product. 2 of those names have a transitional regime, with a deadline.
- Name · Mercosur GI10 Mercosur names are protected in the European UnionConfirmeda protection in the exporter’s favourA product from one of those areas that meets its specification is protected by the name in the EU. See which ones.
EU requirements for this line (9)check which ones apply to the product
The European Commission assigns them to the whole line, so each one should be checked against the actual product.
- EU · healthHealth control of products of animal origin for human consumptionRegulation 2017/625, Regulation 852/2004, Regulation 853/2004 and 13 more acts
- EU · healthHealth control of products of animal origin not intended for human consumptionRegulation 2017/625, Regulation 183/2005, Regulation 142/2011 and 3 more acts
- EU · healthControl of contaminants in foodstuffsRegulation 2017/625, Regulation 315/1993, Regulation 2023/915 and 3 more acts
- EU · healthHealth control of Genetically Modified (GM) food and novel food
- EU · healthControl of residues of veterinary medicines in animals and animal products for human consumptionRegulation 2017/625, Regulation 2021/405, Regulation 2022/1644 and 12 more acts
- EU · labellingLabelling of foodstuffsRegulation 1169/2011, Regulation 2018/848, Regulation 834/2007 and 9 more acts
- EU · healthTraceability, compliance and responsibility in food and feedRegulation 178/2002
- Only if applicableCITES - Endangered Species ProtectionRegulation 338/1997, Regulation 2025/6, Regulation 865/2006 and 1 more act
- Only if applicableVoluntary - Products from organic productionRegulation 2018/848, Regulation 834/2007, Regulation 2021/2325 and 4 more acts
Source: Access2Markets (European Commission) · checked on 1 September 2026
6 · Authorisations and registrations
What must be approved before exporting
There are two gates, in this order. First the country, since the European Union only admits products of animal origin from countries whose control plan it has approved, and Argentina is approved for 12 of 13 categories. Then the plant, which must be approved in Argentina and, for most products of animal origin, appear on the list the Commission publishes.
- Third-country listArgentina is on the list of authorised countriesConfirmedthe country is authorisedThe Commission has approved Argentina's control plan for Bovine, Ovine/caprine, Equine, Poultry, Aquaculture (16), Milk, Eggs, Rabbit, Wild game, Farmed game, Honey, Casings. The category of the product should be confirmed with the customs broker, because the annex does not express them by tariff code.
- No approved planCategories for which Argentina is NOT on the listConfirmedcheck whether it is the category of the productPorcine. A product in any of these cannot enter the European Union today, even at zero duty and with an establishment approved in Argentina.
- Establishment approvalThe plant, approved in Argentina and listed by the European UnionNo dataNo data. It is in SENASA's register and the European Commission's list of establishments.
- Exporter registrationRegistration as an exporter with Argentine customsNo dataNo data. It is in ARCA's register of importers and exporters.
7 · Cross-cutting EU regulations
EUDR, CBAM and safeguards
These are the rules that stop a shipment for reasons unrelated to the duty. This line is covered by EUDR. Below are the start dates and what has to be provided.
EUDR · deforestation
Prohibits placing on the EU market products linked to deforestation. It covers seven commodities (cattle, cocoa, coffee, oil palm, rubber, soya and wood). It may apply, depending on exactly what is shipped. The annex writes the position with «ex», meaning only part of it is covered («ex 1602 50 Las demás preparaciones y conservas de carne, de despojos o de sangre de bovino»). It does not apply yet. It starts on 30 December 2026. What has to be provided: Geolocation of the plots of land where the commodity was produced, and a due diligence statement. Who must comply: The operator placing the product on the EU market, which in an import is the EU importer. The Argentine exporter has to provide the data.
Source: Regulation (EU) 2023/1115, Annex ICBAM · carbon border adjustment
Charges at the EU border for the carbon embedded in certain energy-intensive goods (cement, electricity, fertilisers, iron and steel, aluminium and some chemicals). It does not cover this line, because it is not in the list of codes of Annex I.
Source: Regulation (EU) 2023/956, Annex ISafeguards
Chapter 9 of the agreement allows either Party to suspend the preference for a product if increased imports cause injury to its industry. It is a mechanism, not a list, and nothing applies unless a specific measure has been imposed. Check in TARIC whether any measure is in force for 1602 50 31.
Measures in force · No data8 · Destination
Choose a destination country
The duty, the schedule, the quota and the rule of origin are the same in all twenty-seven Member States, so no country needs to be chosen for the above. What changes by country is the label language, VAT and local formalities.
Choose one of the destinations available
9 · EU market
How much of this product the EU imports
In 2025 the EU imported €13.3 million from outside the EU; Argentina is not among the suppliers.
Where the EU buys from (2025)
| Rank | Country | Value | Share | €/kg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Brazil | €12.8 million | 96.4% | €5.37/kg |
| 2nd | United Kingdom | €273,752 | 2.1% | €9.09/kg |
| 3rd | Lebanon | €58,096 | 0.4% | €6.54/kg |
| 4th | North Macedonia | €47,784 | 0.4% | €10.83/kg |
| 5th | Norway | €9,062 | 0.1% | — |
Another €87,763 comes from origins Eurostat does not identify (ship stores, commercial or military reasons).
Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay enter with the same cut (2025)
| Rank | Country | Value | Share | Quantity | €/kg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | Argentina | No sales | — | — | — |
| 1st | Brazil | €12.8 million | 96.4% | 2,382 t | €5.37/kg |
| — | Uruguay | No sales | — | — | — |
| — | Paraguay | No sales | — | — | — |
Under the agreement they pay the same duty as Argentina, so they compete on price and volume. The rank is among all suppliers from outside the EU.
Who imports within the EU (2025)
| Rank | Member State | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Netherlands | €4.0 million | 30.0% |
| 2nd | Germany | €3.2 million | 24.3% |
| 3rd | Spain | €1.9 million | 14.1% |
| 4th | Malta | €1.8 million | 13.5% |
| 5th | Belgium | €877,597 | 6.6% |
It is the Member State that declares the import, which is not always where the goods are consumed: the ports of the Netherlands and Belgium receive goods for the whole Union.
What your competitors pay
Of the 12 countries on the list, today 7 pay less than you and 5 pay more. When you reach zero on 1 January 2030, none of them will pay less than you.
Country by country (12)
- Argentina, today13.2%Under the EU-Mercosur agreement
- Argentina, at the end0%Reaches zero on 1 January 2030
- United Kingdom2nd EU supplier0%Pays less than youEU preference for its originTARIC, measure 142 (tariff preference), Decision 2253/20, since 1 January 2021
- Lebanon3rd EU supplier0%Pays less than youEU preference for its originTARIC, measure 142 (tariff preference), Decision 0356/06, since 6 November 2016
- North Macedonia4th EU supplier0%Pays less than youEU preference for its originTARIC, measure 142 (tariff preference), Decision 0239/04, since 6 November 2016
- Norway5th EU supplier16.6%Pays more than youNo preference, pays the MFN dutyIt also has a quota (order 09.0826) where it pays 0%.TARIC, measure 103 (MFN duty), Regulation 2204/99, since 1 July 2000
- Chile0%Pays less than youEU preference for its originTARIC, measure 142 (tariff preference), Decision 3016/24, since 1 February 2025
- Mexico16.6%Pays more than youNo preference, pays the MFN dutyTARIC, measure 103 (MFN duty), Regulation 2204/99, since 1 July 2000
- Canada0%Pays less than youEU preference for its originTARIC, measure 142 (tariff preference), Decision 0037/17, since 21 September 2017
- South Africa0%Pays less than youEU preference for its originTARIC, measure 142 (tariff preference), Decision 1623/16, since 6 November 2016
- New Zealand16.6%Pays more than youNo preference, pays the MFN dutyIt also has a quota (order 09.4456) where it pays 7.5%.TARIC, measure 103 (MFN duty), Regulation 2204/99, since 1 July 2000
- Vietnam2%Pays less than youEU preference for its originValid until 31 December 2026.TARIC, measure 142 (tariff preference), Decision 0753/20, since 1 January 2026
- United States16.6%Pays more than youNo preference, pays the MFN dutyTARIC, measure 103 (MFN duty), Regulation 2204/99, since 1 July 2000
- China16.6%Pays more than youNo preference, pays the MFN dutyTARIC, measure 103 (MFN duty), Regulation 2204/99, since 1 July 2000
The countries are the five largest non-EU suppliers of this line (Eurostat, Comext) and a fixed reference list, with an agreement with the EU (Chile, Mexico, Canada, South Africa, New Zealand and Vietnam) and without one (United States and China). Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay enter under the same agreement as you.
Each figure is the TARIC measure in force today for that origin, in the edition of 1 October 2026. Before clearing goods, the importer checks TARIC with the date and the ten-digit code.
TARIC, European Commission, edition of 1 October 2026 (CIRCABC)
10 · What to do, in order
The steps, in order
7 steps, in the order they are taken. Each one comes from a block of this sheet. Where there is a date, a norm sets it.
- 1Confirm the tariff classification with a customs brokerThis whole sheet depends on the line being 1602 50 31. If the line changes, so do the duty, the quota, the rule of origin and the requirements. It is the one step that cannot be skipped.Customs broker
- 2Register as an exporter with ARCA (Argentina)On the Argentine side, the export is lodged with customs, which requires registration in the exporters' register. That registration comes before the first shipment.
- 3Check that the product is originating, and be ready to prove itThe rule for 16.01 – 16.05 requires that all the conditions it lists be met at the same time, not just one. Without proof of origin there is no preference, and the MFN duty is paid even if the product qualifies. Origin is proven with the exporter's statement on origin (Annex 3-C). At the start, the transitional certificate of origin of Annex 3-D also applies (notice 2026/875).The exporter makes the statement. A certifying body is involved if the transitional certificate of Annex 3-D is needed.
- 4Obtain establishment approval and the health certificateThis line is on the list of goods the European Union controls at the border. The certificate is issued by SENASA, and for that the establishment must be approved and, depending on the product, appear on the EU list of approved establishments.
- 5The importer pre-notifies the consignment before arrivalThe consignment is announced in TRACES with a common health entry document (CHED) and enters through an approved border control post. If the port of destination has no post for this type of product, the consignment cannot enter there.TRACES NT · done by the EU importer
- 6Prepare for EUDRWhat has to be provided: Geolocation of the plots of land where the commodity was produced, and a due diligence statement. The operator placing the product on the EU market, which in an import is the EU importer. The Argentine exporter has to provide the data.The obligation is on the EU importer, but the data comes from the exporterFrom 30 December 2026
- 7Check the technical and labelling rules for the productComposition, additives, contaminants, packaging and label. The EU product requirements for this line are in block 5; the detail by destination country, in the Commission's search tool. See it in Access2MarketsEuropean Commission · Access2Markets