Importing Preparations of meat, of fish, of crustaceans, molluscs or other aquatic invertebrates, or of insects from Argentina into Australia (2026)

Argentina is a foot-and-mouth disease risk country, meaning all Chapter 16 meat preparations imported into Australia require a DAFF Import Permit under the Biosecurity Act 2015 and documented proof of heat treatment meeting minimum retort standards before clearance will be granted. No FTA exists between Australia and Argentina, so full MFN tariff rates apply and a precisely declared AUD commercial invoice is mandatory for correct duty assessment under the Customs Act 1901.

No FTA — MFN rates applyHS Chapter 16

Compliance requirements

⚠Obtain a DAFF Import Permit before shipment and confirm retort temperature records meet the 70 degrees Celsius for 30 minutes minimum requirement.
⚠Declare accurate AUD customs value inclusive of freight and insurance to avoid duty underpayment penalties under the Customs Act 1901.
⚠Ensure retail packaging displays Argentine origin of major meat ingredients in compliance with FSANZ Standard 1.2.11 to avoid ACCC action.
⚠All meat and seafood preparations must meet DAFF biosecurity import conditions — many products require an Import Permit under the Biosecurity Act 2015, especially those containing beef, pork or poultry from foot-and-mouth disease or Newcastle disease risk countries
⚠Heat treatment evidence is critical: DAFF requires documentation proving the product reached a minimum internal temperature (e.g., 70°C for 30 minutes for most canned meats) — retort process records or a government-endorsed certificate from the exporting country are frequently requested
⚠Country of origin labelling under the Australian Food and Grocery Code and FSANZ Standard 1.2.11 is strictly enforced — products sold retail must clearly disclose origin of major ingredients, and non-compliance can trigger ACCC action
⚠FSANZ food standards apply at the border: additives, preservatives and salt/sodium levels in preparations must comply with the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code, and ABF may refer consignments to state food authorities for testing if labelling is inconsistent
⚠Anti-dumping measures are active in this chapter — canned tomatoes from Italy and certain preserved seafood lines have historically attracted dumping duties; check the Australian Border Force Anti-Dumping Commission register before lodging to avoid unexpected duty liability
⚠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 product description including species name, preparation method and net drained weight
Import Permit issued by DAFF (mandatory for most meat-containing preparations and required prior to shipment arrival)
Health or veterinary certificate issued by the competent authority of the exporting country, endorsed to Australian requirements
Manufacturer's retort/heat treatment records or processing attestation confirming compliance with DAFF cooking requirements
Certificate of Origin (preferably on approved FTA form such as AANZ Form AK or ChAFTA CO) to access preferential tariff rates

Import tip

Apply for the DAFF Import Permit well before the shipment is produced — permits for meat-containing preparations can take 4–8 weeks to issue and cannot be backdated, so a vessel arriving without a valid permit will face mandatory re-export or destruction at the importer's cost.

Calculate the total landed cost for Chapter 16 goods from Argentina — duty, GST, IPC, and biosecurity included.

Calculate Landed Cost Find HS Code with AI

Other product categories imported from Argentina

Ch.23Residues and waste from the food industries; prepared animal fodder Ch.15Animal, vegetable or microbial fats and oils and their cleavage products; prepared edible fats; animal or vegetable waxes Ch.41Raw hides and skins (other than furskins) and leather Ch.22Beverages, spirits and vinegar Ch.2Meat and edible meat offal Ch.12Oil seeds and oleaginous fruits; miscellaneous grains, seeds and fruit; industrial or medicinal plants; straw and fodder