Importing Plastics and articles thereof from Switzerland into Australia (2026)

Australia has no FTA with Switzerland so full MFN tariff rates apply to all Chapter 39 plastic goods, meaning importers must secure a Swiss Chamber of Commerce Certificate of Origin and budget for the applicable general tariff rate with no preferential concession available. The most critical compliance obligation for this combination is ensuring Swiss-manufactured plastic articles meet Australian product safety standards before shipment, as ACCC, FSANZ, and DAFF requirements apply regardless of the goods high-quality Swiss origin.

No FTA — MFN rates applyHS Chapter 39

Compliance requirements

⚠Obtain a Swiss Chamber of Commerce Certificate of Origin to substantiate origin declarations for MFN tariff classification purposes.
⚠Confirm food-contact or childrens plastic articles meet FSANZ Standard 1.4.3 or AS/NZS 8124 before lodging the import declaration.
⚠Inspect hollow plastic items such as furniture for organic matter in cavities to avoid DAFF biosecurity intervention on arrival.
⚠Food-contact plastics (containers, wrapping film, cutlery) must comply with FSANZ standards — suppliers should provide a food-grade declaration or migration test results confirming compliance with FSANZ Food Standards Code Standard 1.4.3
⚠Plastic items containing wood, soil, plant material or organic matter in cavities (e.g. outdoor furniture with hollow legs) trigger DAFF biosecurity inspection and may require treatment or re-export under the Biosecurity Act 2015
⚠Children's plastic products (toys, feeding items) are subject to the ACCC's mandatory consumer product safety standards — importers must ensure compliance with AS/NZS 8124 and relevant ACCC product safety notices before customs clearance
⚠Anti-dumping measures are actively applied to plastics from China and other countries — check the ABF Anti-Dumping Commission register before shipment, particularly for PVC products, polyethylene film and styrene polymers, as duty liabilities can be substantial and retrospective
⚠Plastic packaging subject to the Australian Packaging Covenant (APCO) and state-based container deposit schemes may impose downstream obligations on brand owners and importers — not a customs hold-up but a compliance cost that surprises new importers
⚠No FTA exists between Australia and Switzerland so MFN (general) tariff rates apply to all goods; importers should obtain a Swiss Certificate of Origin from the relevant Swiss chamber of commerce to substantiate origin declarations for tariff classification and statistical purposes
⚠Pharmaceutical and medicinal imports (HS Chapter 30) must comply with Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) registration requirements and may require import permits under the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 prior to customs clearance
⚠Watches, precision instruments and medical devices (Chapters 90 and 91) must meet applicable Australian product safety standards and any relevant ACMA type-approval requirements; importers must retain conformity documentation and technical files for post-clearance audit by the ACCC
⚠Goods of animal origin, plant material or organic compounds including flavourings and cosmetic ingredients are subject to strict Australian Border Force biosecurity intervention and may require DAFF import permits, phytosanitary certificates or CITES documentation for products containing protected species derivatives such as certain perfume ingredients

Key documents required

commercial invoice with full polymer type description (e.g. HDPE, PET, PP) and HS subheading declared by supplier
bill of lading or airway bill
packing list with net and gross weights per SKU
food-grade declaration or third-party migration test certificate for any food-contact plastic articles
ACCC supplier declaration or test report for children's plastic products subject to mandatory safety standards

Import tip

Declaring the specific polymer type and form (e.g. 'polypropylene, in primary forms, random copolymer' vs 'articles of polypropylene') in the commercial invoice prevents ABF tariff reclassification disputes — the boundary between Chapters 39 and 40, and between primary forms and finished articles, is a common audit trigger that delays clearance and generates amendment costs.

Calculate the total landed cost for Chapter 39 goods from Switzerland — duty, GST, IPC, and biosecurity included.

Calculate Landed Cost Find HS Code with AI

Other product categories imported from Switzerland

Ch.30Pharmaceutical products Ch.91Clocks and watches and parts thereof Ch.90Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories thereof Ch.84Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof Ch.71Natural or cultured pearls, precious or semi-precious stones, precious metals, metals clad with precious metal and articles thereof; imitation jewellery; coin Ch.38Miscellaneous chemical products