Importing Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof from Switzerland into Australia (2026)

Australia has no FTA with Switzerland so full MFN tariff rates apply to all Chapter 84 machinery imports; obtain a Swiss Chamber of Commerce Certificate of Origin before shipment to substantiate origin declarations and avoid ABF delays at clearance.

No FTA — MFN rates applyHS Chapter 84

Compliance requirements

⚠Obtain RCM registration with ACMA before shipping any motor-driven or electrical Swiss machinery intended for Australian sale.
⚠Book DAFF biosecurity inspection in advance for any used Swiss machinery, particularly precision plant with soil or organic residue risk.
⚠Confirm ODS/SGG import permit from Department of Climate Change prior to shipment for any Swiss refrigeration or cooling equipment containing HFCs.
⚠Used or second-hand machinery requires a DAFF biosecurity inspection and may require cleaning or fumigation treatment before release — budget extra time and cost, particularly for soil-contaminated plant from Asia or the Americas
⚠Refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment containing HFCs or HCFCs requires an Australian Refrigeration Council (ARC) licence for handling and an ODS/SGG import permit from the Department of Climate Change under the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Act before shipment
⚠Electrical machinery and equipment (including motor-driven plant) intended for sale or supply in Australia must meet ACMA regulatory compliance mark (RCM) requirements — failing to register responsible suppliers with ACMA before import can result in ABF holds and costly recalls
⚠Energy-using products covered by the Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards (GEMS) Act — including commercial refrigeration units, air compressors and certain pumps — must meet minimum energy performance standards and carry correct labelling before being offered for sale; non-compliant stock can be seized at the border
⚠Anti-dumping measures currently apply to certain steel-component machinery and aluminium extrusion equipment from China; check the ABF Anti-Dumping Commission's measure register before finalising supplier contracts as dumping duties can add 5–40% to landed cost
⚠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 detailing full technical description, model and serial numbers, country of origin and manufacturer name
bill of lading or airwaybill
packing list with gross and net weights and dimensions (critical for ABF and DAFF inspection scheduling)
manufacturer's certificate of origin (in prescribed FTA format where preferential tariff rate is being claimed under ChAFTA, AUSFTA or RCEP)
ODS/SGG import permit (where applicable for refrigerant-charged equipment) and ACMA RCM supplier registration evidence or equivalency test report for electrical machinery

Import tip

Request the manufacturer's technical datasheet and confirm the correct 8-digit HS tariff subheading with your broker before the shipment leaves origin — reclassification of machinery at the border (e.g. between 8479, 8428 or chapter 73/94) is a common ABF audit trigger and can delay clearance by days while also affecting whether your FTA certificate covers the correct tariff line.

Calculate the total landed cost for Chapter 84 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.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 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