Key data
| Regulation | Resolution of 30 July 2026, from ICEX Spain Export and Investments, E.P.E., publishing the Agreement with the Royal Spanish Federation of Selective Livestock Associations |
|---|---|
| BOE Publication | 8 August 2026 |
| Entry into force | 30 July 2026 |
| Affected parties | Companies and associations in the selective breed livestock sector with export vocation |
| Category | Agriculture and Fisheries |
| Signatory bodies | ICEX Spain Export and Investments, E.P.E. and Royal Spanish Federation of Selective Livestock Associations |
| Reference event | International Livestock Fair of Zafra (Extremadura) |
| Target markets | America, Asia, Europe and North Africa |
Spanish livestock companies specialized in selective breeds have a direct opportunity to access international buyers thanks to the agreement signed between ICEX Spain Export and Investments and the Royal Spanish Federation of Selective Livestock Associations, published in the BOE on 8 August 2026 with effect from 30 July.
The mechanism is a reverse mission: instead of Spanish companies traveling abroad to seek clients, foreign buyers and opinion leaders come to Spain to visit production centers. This drastically reduces the cost and effort for participating companies.
What does this regulation establish?
The agreement defines the framework for collaboration between ICEX and the Federation to organize an extension of reverse mission linked to the International Livestock Fair of Zafra, with visits to livestock production centers in Extremadura and other prominent regions of Spain.
The division of responsibilities between the two signatory bodies is as follows:
| Body | Responsibilities assumed |
|---|---|
| Royal Spanish Federation of Selective Livestock Associations | Complete logistics of travel, accommodation and accompaniment of international visitors |
| ICEX Spain Export and Investments | Contribution of its network of commercial offices abroad to identify and attract buyers and opinion leaders |
The agreement also establishes the creation of a monitoring committee with two specific functions:
- Set the definitive dates for the reverse mission.
- Evaluate the results obtained after its completion.
The markets of origin of the buyers and opinion leaders intended to be attracted are: America, Asia, Europe and North Africa.
Economic and operational impact
For livestock companies, the main impact is a business opportunity with outsourced logistical costs. The Federation assumes the entire transport, accommodation and accompaniment of visitors, which eliminates the main barrier to internationalization for many farms and companies in the sector.
The specific operational benefits for participating companies are:
- Direct access to qualified buyers from four major geographic areas without the need to travel.
- Visibility before international opinion leaders, who can influence purchasing decisions in their home markets.
- Institutional backing from ICEX, which provides credibility and the network of commercial offices abroad for the selection of visitors.
- International positioning of Spanish selective livestock breeds in new export markets.
The only operational cost borne by participating companies is preparing and executing visits to their facilities, with staff capable of communicating in English.
Who does it affect?
- Livestock companies specialized in selective breeds with export vocation.
- Breeder associations integrated into the Royal Spanish Federation of Selective Livestock Associations.
- Livestock farms located in Extremadura and other regions with outstanding selective breed production.
- Companies in the sector with capacity to attend visits in English and able to demonstrate export capacity.
- Sector operators who want to open or consolidate markets in America, Asia, Europe and North Africa.
Practical example
An Extremaduran farm of selective native breed, associated with the Federation and with previous experience in exporting genetic material or live animals, can register as a receiving company for the reverse mission.
During the visit, it will receive at its facilities buyers from, for example, an Asian or Latin American country, identified and selected by ICEX commercial offices abroad. Transfer from the airport, accommodation and accompanying schedule are managed by the Federation. The company only needs to prepare the visit to its facilities and have staff who can communicate in English with visitors.
If the visit results in a commercial agreement, the company will have accessed an international market without having invested in its own prospective trip or in organizing a traditional trade mission.
What should companies do now?
- Verify if your company meets the participation requirements: demonstrable export capacity and ability to attend visits in English.
- Contact the Royal Spanish Federation of Selective Livestock Associations to learn about the registration process as a receiving company for the reverse mission and the dates set by the monitoring committee.
- Prepare the presentation of your facilities in visit format: technical documentation in English, company materials and commercial arguments oriented to international buyers.
- Identify priority markets among the four target geographic blocks (America, Asia, Europe, North Africa) to orient your proposal to the most relevant buyers for your business.
- Coordinate with ICEX if you already have a previous relationship with any of its commercial offices abroad, to strengthen your candidacy as a receiving company.
Frequently asked questions
What is a reverse mission and how does it differ from a traditional trade mission?
In a traditional trade mission, Spanish companies travel abroad to visit potential clients. In a reverse mission, foreign buyers travel to Spain to visit the facilities of exporting companies. In this case, the Royal Spanish Federation of Selective Livestock Associations assumes the complete logistics of travel, accommodation and accompaniment of international visitors, eliminating that cost for participating companies.
What requirements must a livestock company meet to participate in this reverse mission?
According to the agreement published in the BOE, participating companies must have export capacity and be in a position to attend visits in English. No other additional requirements are specified in the agreement text, so it is recommended to contact the Royal Spanish Federation of Selective Livestock Associations directly to learn about the specific selection process.
From which countries or regions will international buyers come?
The agreement establishes that buyers and opinion leaders will come from four major geographic areas: America, Asia, Europe and North Africa. The specific selection of buyers will be carried out through ICEX's network of commercial offices abroad.
When will the reverse mission take place and where?
The agreement is linked to the International Livestock Fair of Zafra (Extremadura). The specific dates will be set by the monitoring committee created by the agreement itself. As of the BOE publication date (8 August 2026), no definitive dates have been announced. It is recommended to follow communications from the Federation and ICEX to learn about the schedule.
What role does ICEX play in this initiative and how can it help my company?
ICEX contributes its network of commercial offices abroad to identify and attract international buyers and opinion leaders in target markets. It does not assume the logistics of the trip (the Federation does that), but its network is the main channel to reach qualified buyers in America, Asia, Europe and North Africa.
Official source
Consult complete regulation in official source
Notice: 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-2026-17369