Importing Pharmaceutical products from Belgium into Australia (2026)

No FTA exists between Australia and Belgium, so MFN tariff rates apply to all Chapter 30 pharmaceutical imports; the single most critical obligation is confirming each product holds a current ARTG entry before shipment departs Belgium, as ABF will hold unregistered therapeutic goods at the border regardless of tariff compliance.

No FTA — MFN rates applyHS Chapter 30

Compliance requirements

⚠Verify each imported pharmaceutical line item has a valid ARTG registration number before lodging the import declaration.
⚠Ensure your TGA Import Licence specifically covers the Belgian pharmaceutical goods in the shipment prior to arrival.
⚠If importing narcotics or psychotropics, obtain a shipment-specific ODC permit at least 10 to 15 business days before departure from Belgium.
⚠All therapeutic goods for human use must be listed or registered on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG) before importation — ABF will hold shipments if the ARTG entry cannot be confirmed at the border
⚠The importer must hold a current TGA Manufacturing or Import Licence (issued under the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989) — this licence must match the specific goods being imported, and spot audits do occur
⚠Narcotic, psychotropic, and certain precursor substances require a permit from the Office of Drug Control (ODC) under the Narcotic Drugs Act before each shipment; permits are shipment-specific so plan lead times of 10–15 business days
⚠Biological medicines, vaccines, and any product of animal origin require DAFF biosecurity assessment and may need a Biosecurity Import Permit — cold-chain integrity documentation is also scrutinised at the border for temperature-sensitive biologics
⚠Goods exempt from ARTG registration (e.g. certain compounded medicines or personal use exemptions) still require a formal TGA exemption reference to be cited on the import declaration to avoid ABF detention
⚠No FTA exists between Australia and Belgium, so MFN (general) tariff rates apply to all imported goods and no preferential certificate of origin is required or accepted for duty reduction purposes
⚠Anti-dumping and countervailing measures administered by the Anti-Dumping Commission may apply to certain Belgian steel and chemical products, importers should check the measures register on the ABF website prior to lodging import declarations
⚠Electrical and electronic goods must comply with ACMA regulatory arrangements including RCM (Regulatory Compliance Mark) requirements, and relevant Australian Standards under the Electrical Equipment Safety System (EESS) before goods can be sold in Australia
⚠Biosecurity Act 2015 requirements apply to any goods containing organic material, wooden packaging must be treated and marked to ISPM 15 standards, and pharmaceutical and chemical imports from Belgium require TGA or APVMA approval as applicable

Key documents required

commercial invoice citing ARTG registration or listing number for each product line
TGA Import Licence or Manufacturing Licence copy (held by the importer of record)
Office of Drug Control (ODC) import permit for controlled substances (Schedule 8 or precursor chemicals)
Certificate of Analysis (CoA) and Manufacturer's Certificate of GMP Compliance or equivalent TGA-accepted GMP clearance
DAFF Biosecurity Import Permit and cold-chain temperature records for biologics, vaccines, or animal-derived products

Import tip

Lodge your ODC controlled substance import permit application at least three weeks before the vessel or aircraft departs origin — ODC permits cannot be expedited after shipment, and a single missing permit number on the import declaration will result in ABF referral and potential destruction of the consignment.

Calculate the total landed cost for Chapter 30 goods from Belgium — duty, GST, IPC, and biosecurity included.

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Other product categories imported from Belgium

Ch.84Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof Ch.85Electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof; sound recorders and reproducers, television image and sound recorders and reproducers, and parts and accessories of such articles Ch.87Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling-stock, and parts and accessories thereof Ch.90Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories thereof Ch.38Miscellaneous chemical products Ch.72Iron and steel