There are special stipulations on the following commodities when shipping to Australia. If you plan to ship one of the commodities listed below, be sure to adhere to the following stipulations in order to avoid delays and holds at customs.
- If the animal skins are covered by the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES), they will be seized by Customs unless a valid export permit and import permit are in place at the time of importation and are presented to Customs at such time.
- All clothing must contain labels. The labels must state the material composition and country or territory of origin. This label must be sewn into the garment, where the customer can see the markings, if the garments are packaged. If the packaging is not transparent, the markings must also be on the packaging.
- Green coffee beans require an import permit from the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service.
- These items are subject to censorship for objectionable content.
- Shipments of cosmetic products more than 250mg/kg of lead, require approval from the Ministry for Justice and Customs. This does not apply to those designed for use in hair treatments.
- Requires an import permit from the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
- These items are subject to censorship for objectionable content.
- Restrictions depend on the type of food product. All goods containing meat, dairy, fish, and bee products require permits to import. Quarantine charges apply for food importation.
Restrictions in relation to commerce marking also apply; packaging must identify the manufacturer, distributor, importer, quantity, ingredients, and country or territory of manufacture.
Any shipments that arrive in old fruit boxes will be repacked. The boxes are then destroyed. Clearance delays will occur.
Charges for the quarantine inspection of food are billed to the consignee. Suspicious foods are fumigated by Australian Quarantine Authorities.
The minimum quarantine fee is $36.00 Australian dollar (AUD).
- Increased quarantine measures are being applied for products produced in Taiwan as a result of the confirmed outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease.
Import Permits and applications for products with more than 10% of dairy content; semen, embryos and other biological products of susceptible species are to be assessed and appropriate measures or suspension in line with new requirements as a result of the outbreak will be imposed. All affected business will be informed of changes affecting their Import Permits.
Further, import for the following products will be assessed on a case by case basis depending on manufacturing processing and other treatment being sufficient to manage the risk of Foot and Mouth Disease:
- Used farming equipment
- Saddlery, harnesses & tacks
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Scoured wool, animal hair and leather products
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Processed canned and dried pet food
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Biological Products from non-susceptible species
- Processed meat of dairy products (for example, chocolate and confectionary, highly processed cheese; shelf stable hermetically sealed/retorted meat and dairy products)
For further information, please visit the following website: http://www.daff.gov.au
- Australian Customs may require a Certificate of Origin for goods claiming preferential terms under the U.S. - Australia Free Trade Agreement (AUSFTA). The goods must be wholly obtained or produced in the U.S. If U.S. origin is not stated on the commercial invoice at time of importation, preference will not be claimed and the standard schedule duty rate will apply. For more information, please visit www.customs.gov.au
Note: A scanned copy of the Certificate of Origin must be uploaded to UPS Document Imaging System (DIS).
- Jewelery Shipments with a value less than $1000.00 AUD require Evidence of Price Paid or Sale. This can be in the form of Bank Statements showing proof of payment for the goods, or Credit Card statements or other Receipts showing the actual monetary transaction for the goods.
- The importation of medicines into Australia is regulated under the "Therapeutic Goods Act". If the medicines are not registered with the "Therapeutic Administration" then they are not permitted entry into Australia. Permits to import are required for certain goods such as steroids.
Personal imports of prescription medicines can be imported if the importer is a person, the supply is for less than 3 months and they have a prescription from an Australian doctor.
- A full listing of ingredients is required on the invoice. Customs and Quarantine will hold all shipments until ingredients can be verified. Shipments containing ingredients that cannot be verified or are prohibited, will be seized by Customs. Quarantine inspection charges will apply.
http://www.daff.gov.au/biosecurity/import/biological/therapeutic-foods-dietary
The list of prohibited ingredients can be found in the Australian Government - Department of Health website
http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/ocs-treaties-compliance-prohibited-impexp-precursor.htm
Refer to Department of Health - Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) website for more information on importing personal shipments to Australia
- Customers must use an authorized UPS / MBE (Mail Boxes Etc) Store, UPS Customer Center or ISC Approved Shipper to ship personal effects.
The UPS Store, Mail Boxes Etc, UPS Customer Center or ISC approved shipper will be required to identify personal effect shipments on the shipping label by placing "Personal Effects" in the Reference Field of a UPS "smart" label or in the Special Instructions Field of a UPS waybill. They must also clearly indicate 'Personal Effects' shipment on the Commercial Invoice.
Personal Effects are classified as used items (owned for a minimum of 6 months) intended for the consignee's personal use. Any items intended for any other use, such as wholesale or retail sales, business purposes, or for distribution are not considered personal effects and cannot be shipped on this basis. "Personal Effects" must be clearly stated on the invoice and goods description.
All of the following documents must be scanned into DIS/SIR and originals on the package:
An inventory list with estimated values with the reason for importation (holidays, move, relocation) A confirmation that the goods are older than 6 months and that they are intended for personal use only A photocopy of passport or ID card Any items intended for any other use, such as wholesale or retail sales, business purposes, or for distribution are not considered personal effects and cannot be shipped on this basis.
Excisable goods (for example, perfume, alcoholic drinks, tobacco), medicine and perishable food can not be cleared as personal effects.
Personal effects shipments are not allowed in combination with Return Services.
- Pharmaceuticals require an import permit from the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).
- The invoice must state the material composition of the sample. Samples without a clear description are subject to quarantine inspection. All quarantine costs are charged to the importer, unless the shipment is Free Domicile, in which quarantine costs are charged to the shipper. Expect at least a 1-day delay.
- According to the Trade Marking requirements, shoes must be individually marked in a permanent manner stating the country or territory of origin and material(s) content.
- All software shipments must invoice the value of the compact disc (CD) or diskette and the value of the intellectual property or programming. If the CDs or diskettes are blank, the description on the invoice must mention the fact. If the invoice does not indicate the intellectual property or programming value, then the shipment may be subject to further Customs checks and subsequent delays.
- Straw is strictly prohibited; non-compliance results in longer delays. All packages containing straw will be held and the straw removed. The importer bears the expense. Delays ranging from 48 hours to 2 weeks will occur. The cost of removing the straw and the subsequent delays are based on the size of the package.
- Ceramic tableware may be delayed for lead cadmium testing.
- Portable telephones require an import permit.
- Textiles must be labeled with the composition of fabric and country or territory of origin.
- The manufacturer must issue a certificate certifying that the tire is free from mosquitoes and/or their larvae.
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Tobacco products now require written permission to be shipped.must have a valid import permit before goods arrive in AU.
- If the goods arrive in AU and you dont have a Valid Import Permit you cant apply for one after the goods arrived they will get seized you cant return them and cant transship them.
- Certain types of tobacco products are exempt from this regulation (smokeless tobacco, cigars and unmanufactured tobacco).
- Any painted item must be labeled with the words, "Paint not containing lead."
- Quarantine will hold and inspect all used goods. A minimum quarantine charge of $36.00 AUD applies.
- Require an import permit from the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service.
- These items are subject to censorship for objectionable content.
- A full listing of ingredients is required on the invoice. Customs may hold shipments for inspection.
- Wooden furniture and other wooden products should be fumigated prior to export. Shipments should include a Fumigation Certificate issued by a fumigation inspector to avoid delays. The Fumigation Certificate should be attached to the shipping documentation. All items made of wood, cane, bamboo and rattan imported into Australia must undergo quarantine checks, which could add 1 to 2 days of delay.
For solid wood packing and dunnage, AQIS will require mandatory compliance with ISPM 15. This can either be in the form of a phytosanitary certificate or an IPPC logo.
In the event of non-compliance , the package will be treated, destroyed or re-exported. Charges will apply in these instances.