General Discussion

Prior to 2024–2025: Was U.S. Beef Banned in Australia?
* No — U.S. beef was not banned in Australia, but certain U.S. beef exports were restricted, specifically:
* Beef from cattle not born and raised entirely in the U.S. was ineligible.
* Australia only accepted U.S. beef if it could be definitively proven that the animals were born, raised, and slaughtered within the United States.

So how did the U.S. export beef to Australia at all?
The U.S. export system worked around this by doing source-based segregation:
* Exporters maintained detailed production records and used verified-supply programs to certify birth origin.
* Only beef from cattle born in the U.S. (not imported as live cattle from Canada or Mexico) was eligible for Australian export.
* These cattle had to be segregated and tracked through the supply chain — from feedlots to processors — to maintain eligibility.
* So U.S. beef from verified domestic cattle could and did enter Australia. But it excluded beef from any cattle imported from Mexico or Canada, even if they were finished and slaughtered in the U.S.

1. 2011 – First Federal Traceability Rule
USDA/APHIS enacted the Animal Disease Traceability (ADT) rule, requiring official identification (ear tags, brands, etc.) for cattle and bison moving across state lines. This laid the foundation for future traceability efforts.

2. April 2024 – Electronic ID Requirement Finalized
On April 26, 2024, APHIS finalized a rule mandating that official ID for interstate cattle movement must be both visually and electronically readable (RFID eartags). The rule took effect November 5, 2024.

3. November 2024 – Mexico Imports Halted, Protocols Negotiated
APHIS paused cattle imports from Mexico due to screwworm detection. A new pre-clearance inspection and treatment protocol with Mexico was negotiated and finalized by early 2025.

4. February 2025 – Imports Resume Under New Protocol
Under the updated traceability and biosecurity protocols, cattle and bison imports from Mexico resumed. The agreement required official RFID tagging and tracing from herd origin.

5. July 2025 – Australia Lifts Restrictions
Australia formally announced that it would accept U.S. beef from cattle born in Canada or Mexico, provided full lifetime traceability back to the farm gate was verified. Export permits became available starting July 28, 2025.