Australia

Agreement in force · Strong coverage · Compiled 2026-07-05

33 screening rules

Labeling: 15 rules — 13 blocking, 1 conditional, 1 advisory
Additives: 4 rules — 4 blocking, 0 conditional, 0 advisory
Contaminants & residue limits: 7 rules — 7 blocking, 0 conditional, 0 advisory
Import & registration: 7 rules — 4 blocking, 2 conditional, 1 advisory

Market profile

Main food law: FSANZ Act 1991
Labeling regulation: FSC Standard 1.2.1 (2015 as am.)
Additives and residue limits: FSANZ Code Compilation 2025 (schedules)
Import requirements: Imported Food Control Act 1992
National standards body: Standards Australia (AS/NZS) — paywalled
Latest USDA FAIRS report: 2025

Import and export

Documents to import

Commercial invoice — Issued by: Exporter/seller — Mandatory
Packing list — Issued by: Exporter/seller — Mandatory
Bill of lading / airway bill — Issued by: Carrier — Mandatory
Customs declaration — Issued by: ABF (Full Import Declaration via ICS) — Mandatory
Certificate of origin (incl. preferential forms) — Issued by: Exporting country chamber/authority — Conditional
DAFF import permit — Issued by: DAFF — Conditional
Imported Food Inspection Scheme referral (risk/surveillance) — Issued by: DAFF — Mandatory
Foreign government health/sanitary certificate — Issued by: Exporting authority — Conditional
Manufacturer's declaration / ingredient declaration — Issued by: Manufacturer — Conditional
Phytosanitary certificate — Issued by: Exporting NPPO — Conditional
Laboratory analysis (IFIS test) — Issued by: Nominated lab — Conditional
FSANZ-compliant English label — Issued by: Importer — Mandatory

Documents to export

Commercial invoice — Issued by: Exporter/seller — Mandatory
Packing list — Issued by: Exporter/seller — Mandatory
Bill of lading / airway bill — Issued by: Carrier — Mandatory
Customs declaration — Issued by: ABF (Full Import Declaration via ICS) — Mandatory
Certificate of origin (non-preferential and FTA forms) — Issued by: ACCI / AI Group — Conditional

Government fees

Import Processing Charge (electronic FID >= AUD 10,000) (Import) — 152 AUD
Biosecurity full import declaration charge (sea) (Import) — 68-71 AUD
Biosecurity FID charge (air) (Import) — 46-48 AUD
Import permit application lodgement (Import) — 135 AUD
Import permit assessment (Cat 1-5) (Import) — 82-655 AUD
Documentary assessment (Import) — 40 per 15 min AUD
Inspection fee (in-office ordinary hours / out-of-office) (Import) — 40-67 per 15 min AUD
IFIS laboratory testing (Import) — Not confirmed — check with the authority
VAT/GST on imported food (Import) — Not confirmed — check with the authority
Export certificate / documentation fees (Export) — Not confirmed — check with the authority

Customs single window: ABF ICS; DAFF BICON

Customs duties are not included.

A fee without a confirmed amount is listed by name only.

Official sources

Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code — Full Compilation (all standards + schedules) (2025) Open the source
FSC Standard 1.2.1 — Requirements to have labels or otherwise provide information (2015) Open the source
Imported Food Control Act 1992 (1992) Open the source
USDA FAIRS Country Report Annual — Australia (AS2025-0012) (2025) Open the source
USDA FAIRS Export Certificate Report Annual — Australia (AS2025-0013) (2025) Open the source
Food Standards Australia New Zealand Act 1991 (1991) Open the source
FSC Standard 1.1.1 — Structure of the Code and general provisions (2025) Open the source

Reference documents

USDA Food Processing Ingredients Annual — Australia (AS2026-0004) (2026) Open the source
ANZ Food Standards Code — Full Compilation (2025) Open the source
FSC Standard 1.1.1 — Structure of the Code (2025) Open the source
USDA FAIRS Country Report Annual — Australia (AS2025-0012) (2025) Open the source
USDA FAIRS Export Certificate Report Annual — Australia (AS2025-0013) (2025) Open the source
FSC Standard 1.2.1 — Labels and information requirements (2015) Open the source
Imported Food Control Act 1992 (1992) Open the source
Food Standards Australia New Zealand Act 1991 (1991) Open the source
Joint AS/NZS technical standards (Intertek Inform/Techstreet)
Standards Australia AS/NZS standards (AS 4696, AS 2070 etc.)

Guidance compiled from published sources — not legal clearance. Confirm the requirements with the destination regulator or a licensed advisor before shipping.

Screening guidance based on published standards — not legal clearance. Requirements marked "needs verification" are directional hints; confirm with the destination regulator or a licensed advisor before shipping.