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Home/Australian Tariffs/From Argentina/Animal, vegetable or microbial fats and oils and their cleavage products; prepared edible fats; animal or vegetable waxes

Importing Animal, vegetable or microbial fats and oils and their cleavage products; prepared edible fats; animal or vegetable waxes from Argentina into Australia (2026)

Argentina is a major exporter of soybean and sunflower oils, and without an FTA these goods attract full MFN tariff rates; importers must simultaneously satisfy FSANZ Food Standards Code composition and labelling requirements for edible oils, and for any crude animal fats such as tallow or lard, a valid Biosecurity Act 2015 import permit from DAFF is mandatory before shipment departs Argentina.

No FTA — MFN rates applyHS Chapter 15

Compliance requirements

  • ⚠Secure a DAFF biosecurity import permit prior to shipment for any Argentine crude animal fats, including tallow and lard.
  • ⚠Verify FSANZ Food Standards Code compliance for all edible oil labels and composition before goods arrive at the Australian border.
  • ⚠Declare accurate AUD customs value inclusive of Argentine FOB price, freight and insurance to avoid MFN duty underpayment penalties.
  • ⚠All imported edible oils must comply with Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) Food Standards Code — labelling, composition and purity standards are enforced at the border and FSANZ audits post-clearance; non-compliant product can be detained or destroyed
  • ⚠Crude animal fats (tallow, lard, grease) are subject to DAFF biosecurity import conditions and may require a valid import permit under the Biosecurity Act 2015 — conditions vary significantly by country of origin and processing standard (e.g., heat treatment thresholds)
  • ⚠Palm oil and palm-based fractions from Indonesia and Malaysia have been subject to anti-dumping investigations in Australia; importers should check the Anti-Dumping Commission register for current dumping duties or price undertakings before contracting, as retrospective liability applies from the date of initiation notice
  • ⚠Bulk liquid oils imported in flexitanks or ISO tanks require an accurate Dangerous Goods declaration where flash point thresholds are relevant; misclassification of partially hydrogenated or solvent-extracted oils under transport regulations has triggered ABF compliance interventions
  • ⚠Organic-certified oils must carry a valid certificate issued by an Australian Certified Organic (ACO) or DAFF-approved certifying body under the National Standard for Organic and Bio-Dynamic Produce — foreign certifications alone are insufficient for organic labelling claims in Australia
  • ⚠No FTA exists between Australia and Argentina so MFN (general) tariff rates apply to all goods; a commercial invoice with accurate declared value in AUD is essential for correct duty assessment under the Customs Act 1901
  • ⚠Biosecurity requirements are strict for all animal-origin goods including hides, leather, wool, and processed meats; import permits under the Biosecurity Act 2015 are mandatory and goods may be subject to DAFF inspection or treatment on arrival
  • ⚠Alcoholic beverages including Argentine wine and spirits must comply with Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) labelling requirements covering alcohol content, country of origin, and allergen declarations before clearance
  • ⚠Anti-dumping and countervailing measures administered by the Anti-Dumping Commission should be checked for steel, aluminium, and chemical products; additional duties may apply and importers must declare correct country of origin to avoid penalty

Key documents required

  • commercial invoice with full botanical/species name, country of origin, degree of refinement and CIF value
  • DAFF biosecurity import permit (mandatory for animal-origin fats such as tallow, lard and rendered greases)
  • phytosanitary or veterinary health certificate issued by the competent authority of the exporting country
  • certificate of analysis (CoA) from an accredited laboratory confirming free fatty acid content, peroxide value, moisture and adulterant testing — required by FSANZ and requested by ABF for edible oils
  • bill of lading or sea waybill with accurate description of commodity, including HS code and packaging type (bulk, drums, IBC)

Import tip

Request your overseas supplier to specify the degree of refinement (crude, RBD, refined-bleached, hydrogenated) explicitly on the commercial invoice and CoA — ABF and DAFF use this detail to determine the correct tariff subheading and applicable biosecurity pathway, and ambiguous descriptions are the single most common cause of delays and re-assessments under Chapter 15.

Calculate the total landed cost for Chapter 15 goods from Argentina — duty, GST, IPC, and biosecurity included.

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Other product categories imported from Argentina

Ch.23Residues and waste from the food industries; prepared animal fodderCh.41Raw hides and skins (other than furskins) and leatherCh.22Beverages, spirits and vinegarCh.2Meat and edible meat offalCh.12Oil seeds and oleaginous fruits; miscellaneous grains, seeds and fruit; industrial or medicinal plants; straw and fodderCh.84Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof