When shipping by sea from China to Australia, it is important to note that Australian customs quarantine is very strict. If undeclared animal or plant products or prohibited drugs are found, you may face heavy fines or even prosecution.
Below is a guide to Australian customs prohibited items and tariffs, summarized by Seapoe based on relevant Australian customs regulations and our company's years of experience in carrying personal effects.
Australian Customs Restricted/Dutiable Items
- Alcohol (alcoholic goods imported into Australia will be subject to customs duty and Goods and Services Tax (GST). The duty rate is calculated according to the type of alcohol, volume, alcohol content, and value per bottle. A 10% GST is then added on top of that.)
- Anabolic and androgenic substances (muscle-enhancing and bone-growth substances may appear in health supplements
- Antibiotics
- Subversive advertising material relating to ANZAC or similar
- Any items bearing the Australian national flag or coat of arms
- Any flags or emblems of Australian states or other territories
- Asbestos
- Cat and dog fur products
- Glazed ceramic products
- Whale species (whales, dolphins and porpoises)
- Chemical weapons
- Chewing tobacco and snuff exceeding 1.5kg
- Lighters (passengers aged 18 and above may carry at most 5 lighters when travelling by air or sea)
- Cosmetics and toxic substances (lead content must not exceed 250mg/kg, but hair care products may contain 250mg/kg of lead acetate)
- Counterfeit credit cards
- Riot control equipment (irritant sprays, body armour, extendable batons, stun guns, etc.)
- Papua New Guinea cultural heritage (must be transferred by the Papua New Guinea Public Museum and Art Gallery)
- Diamonds (only rough diamonds in hard packaging after the Kimberley Process may be imported, and relevant certification is required)
- Collars that harm the skin of dogs or other animals
- Passengers arriving by sea or air who carry prescribed medicines or narcotics under the guidance of a physician or veterinarian, in amounts not exceeding a (3)-month supply, do not need to declare (prescriptions must be annotated in English)
- Kava may be carried by passengers aged 18 and above in dried or root form, not exceeding 2kg
- Firearms and accessories, parts, magazines, ammunition, explosive components or imitations
The following items are strictly prohibited and require special approval before import. Contact the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) for more information:
- Eritrea - weapons, ammunition, armed vehicles and equipment and spare parts
- Iran - weapons, ammunition, armed vehicles and equipment and spare parts
- North Korea - weapons, ammunition, armed vehicles and equipment and spare parts
- Libya - weapons, ammunition, armed vehicles and equipment and spare parts
- Endangered animals or plants listed in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES)
- Novelty erasers (made in the shape and appearance of food)
Plastic explosives at room temperature in mouldable containers or containing:
- High-purity explosives placed in mouldable containers at 25 degrees Celsius with one or more pressures below 10.4 PA
- A sticky material
- Fish and toothfish
- Electric fly swatters or electric mosquito swatters
- Hormones containing human or animal genes
- Industrial waste (flammable and explosive materials, toxic, hazardous or polluting materials, medical waste, waste oil and household or production waste as defined in the Basel Convention)
- Hydrofluorocarbon products
- Incandescent lamps
- Knives or daggers
- Laser pointers
- Novelty money boxes coated with more than 90mg of lead per kilogram.
- Ozone and comprehensive exhaust gases
- Pencils and paintbrushes containing specified amounts of lead, arsenic and barium substances
- Pesticides and other hazardous chemicals
- Polychlorinated biphenyls, terphenyls and polyphenyls
- Radioactive substances
- Therapeutic substances (such as abortifacients, aphrodisiacs, etc.)
- Unmanufactured tobacco (uncut stems or whole leaves)
- Toys containing hazardous substances such as lead, arsenic and barium
- Curl-wrapped bags
- Weapons (military items and other weapons such as blowguns, crossbows, military art equipment, finger copper sleeves, slingshots, maces and shackles)
- Goods under trade practices law
Australian Customs Prohibited Items
- Hard diamonds
- Dogs (dangerous breeds include Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro, Japanese Tosa, American Pit Bull Terrier or Pit Bull, Canary Dog or similar breeds)
- Embryo clones and live bacterial materials, and similar promotional materials
- Suicide kits
Seapoe recommends not shipping the following items to Australia: liquids, powders, food, medicines, and products with built-in batteries.
Australian Personal Effects Customs Guide
According to relevant Australian customs regulations, eligible individuals may import furniture, tableware, books, artwork and other personal effects duty-free. Below are the detailed documents required for customs clearance of personal effects and duty/exemption information:
Required Documents
- Copy of passport
- Completed Australian Customs Form B534
- Copy of visa or electronic visa approval (non-Australian residents)
- Detailed contents of goods / packing list
- Alcohol inventory, if declarable
- Original bill of lading (if not telex released) / sea waybill (OBL) I air waybill (AWB)
Detailed Information
- The sea waybill (OBL) must be submitted successfully 7 days before arrival at the first Australian port.
- The air waybill (AWB) must be submitted successfully 48 hours before arrival at the first Australian airport.
- Depending on the shipping mode and destination, sea freight customs clearance times vary between 12-15 working days.
- Depending on the documents and destination, air freight customs clearance takes approximately 5-7 working days.
- If alcoholic goods are carried, an inventory of the goods must be submitted and will be taxed by Australian customs, usually at a rate of 50% of the market value of the alcoholic goods.
Individuals who do not meet the conditions for duty-free personal effects are generally taxed at the import duty rates prescribed by Australian customs.
● China Customs Policy:
China Customs: Import & Export Prohibited Items & Duties
● Australian Customs Policy:
Australian Government
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