Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — Indonesia plans to eliminate import quotas on live cattle to ensure a steady supply of beef and strengthen national food security. The move will allow importers to bring in live cattle for various purposes without restriction.
The move was revealed by Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs Zulkifli Hasan. He said the policy is aimed at supporting the livestock industry and meeting the growing consumption needs of the population.
“We’re now opening it up completely. Imports of live cattle for slaughter, fattening, or dairy purposes are no longer restricted,” Zulkifli said in Jakarta on Sunday, June 15, 2025, as reported by Antara.
Therefore, the new policy will allow importers to bring in unlimited numbers of live cattle for beef production, fattening, and dairy production.
Imported cattle intended for meat production will be raised domestically until they reach the required weight before slaughter.
Meanwhile dairy cattle import are expected to help boost local milk production. Indonesia’s current dairy cattle population stands at around 546,000 head, supplying just 20 percent of national milk demand.
Zulkifli explained that the removal of import quotas is also presents an opportunity for the local dairy processing industry to increase both output and supply quality.
He added that the move could strengthen the entire dairy supply chain from upstream production to downstream processing.
However, Zulkifli did not provide specific technical details on how the quota-free import policy would be implemented.
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Earlier this year, Deputy Agriculture Minister Sudaryono announced that Indonesia plans to import up to 2 million live cattle over the next five years, through 2029. The move is aimed at meeting the country’s growing demand for both beef and milk.
“Our five-year target includes 1.2 million dairy cows and over 800,000 beef cattle, bringing the total to 2 million,” Sudaryono said in Jakarta on Friday, January 31.
He added that for 2025 alone, the government has set an import target of 250,000 live cattle to support both meat and dairy production.
(Raidi/Agung)
