The Commerce Ministry has established a commodity-specific fund aimed at promoting buffalo meat (carabeef) exports from India. Effective October 29, exporters will be required to pay ₹250 per tonne to the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) when applying online for the mandatory health certificate necessary for customs clearance of shipments. This initiative is projected to generate over ₹30 crore annually for the government.
According to a notification issued on October 14 by the Directorate-General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), exporters of chilled or frozen meat must present proof of payment to the Meat Export Development Fund (MEDF), managed by APEDA. Following amendments to relevant provisions, this additional export condition applies specifically to commodities such as fresh and chilled or frozen bovine meat and offal.
The new regulations are set to take effect on October 29, allowing a transition period for exporters. APEDA will retain 30 percent of the collected funds for administrative purposes, while the remaining 70 percent will be allocated for meat promotion.
India’s buffalo meat exports saw an increase of 8.6 percent, totaling $4.06 billion (approximately ₹34,392 crore) in 2024-25, up from $3.74 billion in 2023-24, despite a decrease in shipment volume from 1.3 million tonnes to 1.25 million tonnes. Data for April to August 2025-26 indicates that exports amounted to 485,441 tonnes valued at $1.7 billion (₹14,688 crore).
Given the inadequacy of budget allocations, the government is exploring alternative funding resources to benefit each sector. The creation of commodity-specific funds aims to bridge this gap. Sources indicate that the MEDF is likely to facilitate the establishment of a dedicated Indian Meat Pavilion at major food exhibitions such as Gulfood, ANUGA, and SIAL, akin to initiatives by competing nations including Brazil, the United States, and Australia.
In addition, the allocated funds can support trade delegations aimed at gaining market access in new regions and overcoming non-tariff measures (NTMs) that negatively impact meat exports. The MEDF is also expected to sponsor an increased number of buyer-seller meetings and promote research, development, and extension services focused on the preservation and distribution of quality meat and meat products.
Recently, the government implemented the Non-Basmati Rice Development Fund (NBDF), which mandates exporters to pay a contract registration fee of ₹8 per tonne to APEDA. The Commerce Ministry has authorized APEDA to retain 30 percent of the NBDF’s collected funds for service and infrastructure charges.
Published on October 15, 2025.
