Key data
| Regulation | Resolution of October 16, 2026, ICEX Spain Export and Investments, E.P.E. — Agreement with ASICI |
|---|---|
| BOE Publication | October 24, 2026 |
| Entry into force | October 16, 2026 |
| Affected parties | Iberian pork producers and exporters and Spanish agri-food sector |
| Category | Agriculture and Fisheries |
| Signatory bodies | ICEX Spain Export and Investments, E.P.E. and Interprofessional Association of Iberian Pork (ASICI) |
| Related trade fairs | Madrid Fusión 2027 and Meat Attraction 2027 |
| Target markets | Europe, Asia and America |
Producers and exporters in the Iberian pork sector now have access to an institutional channel to receive high-level international buyers directly at their facilities. The agreement signed between ICEX Spain Export and Investments and the Interprofessional Association of Iberian Pork (ASICI), published in the BOE on October 24, 2026, formalizes the organization of reverse mission extensions aimed at buyers and opinion leaders from Europe, Asia and America.
This is not just another trade fair: reverse missions bring the buyer to the producer, to their production centers in various Spanish locations. The objective is to strengthen the international positioning of the Spanish agri-food sector, with special focus on Iberian products.
What does this regulation establish?
The agreement defines the framework for collaboration between ICEX and ASICI to organize reverse mission extensions: visits by international buyers and opinion leaders to Spain, linked to national reference trade fairs in the sector.
| Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| Type of activity | Reverse mission extensions for buyers and/or opinion leaders in the agri-food sector |
| Reference trade fairs | Madrid Fusión 2027 and Meat Attraction 2027 |
| Buyer destinations | Europe, Asia and America |
| Visit locations | Various Spanish locations with production centers in the Iberian sector |
| Logistics managed by ASICI | Transport, accommodation, meals, insurance and English-language service |
| Requirements for participating companies | Demonstrate export capacity and English-language service |
ASICI assumes the complete travel logistics for international buyers: transport, accommodation, meals, insurance and English-language service. This eliminates the operational barrier for producers, who only need to prepare the visit to their facilities.
Economic and operational impact
For a company in the Iberian sector, participating in this type of reverse mission represents a high-value internationalization opportunity with reduced operational costs, since ASICI finances and manages all buyer logistics. The producer does not assume the travel or accommodation costs of the international visitor.
The real impact is measured in access to qualified buyers from three major geographic blocks:
- Europe: natural market with high demand for premium Iberian products.
- Asia: high-growth market for Spanish gourmet products.
- America: market with growing interest in protected designations of origin and cured products.
The link to Madrid Fusión 2027 (international gastronomic reference) and Meat Attraction 2027 (professional trade fair for the meat sector) ensures that buyers arrive in a context of maximum receptivity to Spanish products.
The requirement for English-language service is an operational filter that companies must evaluate before requesting participation. It is not a minor bureaucratic requirement: it defines the company's actual capacity to close business relationships during the visit.
Who does it affect?
- Iberian pork producers with visitable facilities and accredited export capacity.
- Exporters in the Spanish agri-food sector operating in the Iberian segment.
- Companies with English-language commercial service and orientation toward international markets.
- Associations and cooperatives in the sector linked to ASICI that want to position their members before global buyers.
- International opinion leaders and distributors from Europe, Asia and America who are invited as participants in the missions.
Practical example
A company producing acorn-fed Iberian ham based in Extremadura, with accredited export capacity and a commercial team with sufficient English level to attend visits, can request its inclusion in the reverse mission program linked to Meat Attraction 2027.
If selected, it will receive international buyers at its facilities from, for example, Asian or American markets. ASICI is responsible for bringing them: flights, hotel, meals and insurance are covered by the association. The company only needs to prepare the visit to its production center and ensure English-language service during the day.
The potential result: direct business relationships with high-level importers without having incurred the cost of a prospecting trip abroad.
What should companies do now?
- Verify if they meet the requirements: demonstrate active export capacity and have English-language commercial service. These are the two access filters for the program.
- Contact ASICI: the Interprofessional Association of Iberian Pork is the managing body of the agreement and the entry point for companies interested in participating as hosts for international buyers.
- Prepare facilities for international visits: materials in English, presentation of the production process, product sheets with certifications and protected designations of origin.
- Mark the linked trade fairs on your calendar: Madrid Fusión 2027 and Meat Attraction 2027 are the anchor events of the program. Reverse missions will be organized around these dates.
- Evaluate the internationalization strategy: if the company already exports or wants to start exporting to Europe, Asia or America, this program offers direct access to qualified buyers with no additional logistics costs.
Frequently asked questions
What is a reverse buyer mission and how does it differ from a trade fair?
In a reverse mission, international buyers travel to Spain to visit the facilities of producers, rather than producers traveling abroad or setting up a booth at a trade fair. In this agreement, ASICI organizes and finances the complete travel of buyers and opinion leaders from Europe, Asia and America, including transport, accommodation, meals and insurance.
What requirements must a company meet to participate in the reverse missions of the ICEX-ASICI agreement?
Participating companies must meet two requirements: active export capacity and English-language service. These are the access criteria established in the agreement published on October 24, 2026. The body they should contact is ASICI, the Interprofessional Association of Iberian Pork, which manages the participation of host companies.
What trade fairs are the reverse missions of the ICEX-ASICI 2026 agreement linked to?
Activities are linked to two national reference trade fairs: Madrid Fusión 2027, an international gastronomic reference, and Meat Attraction 2027, a professional trade fair for the meat sector. Visits to production centers in various Spanish locations will be organized around these dates.
Who pays the costs of international buyers visiting Spain?
ASICI assumes the complete travel logistics for international buyers and opinion leaders: transport, accommodation, meals, insurance and English-language service. Host producer companies do not assume these costs; they only need to prepare the visit to their facilities and ensure English-language service during the day.
What countries or regions do the international buyers in these missions come from?
The ICEX-ASICI agreement is aimed at buyers and opinion leaders from three major geographic blocks: Europe, Asia and America. The objective is to strengthen the international positioning of the Spanish agri-food sector, especially Iberian products, in these markets.
Official source
Consult complete regulation in official source
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-22287
