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

Chinese-origin plastics can attract significantly reduced or zero ChAFTA preferential tariff rates, but a valid ChAFTA Certificate of Origin must be lodged with the ABF at entry; simultaneously, food-contact, children's, and organically contaminated plastic goods from China face mandatory FSANZ, ACCC, and DAFF compliance checks that can delay clearance if documentation is not secured from the Chinese supplier before shipment.

✓ FTA Active: ChAFTAHS Chapter 39

Free Trade Agreement

China-Australia Free Trade Agreement

Chapter 39 goods originating in China may qualify for preferential duty rates under ChAFTA. Goods must meet the rules of origin and be accompanied by a valid certificate of origin.

View ChAFTA rates and requirements →

Compliance requirements

⚠Obtain a valid ChAFTA Certificate of Origin from your Chinese supplier before shipment to claim preferential tariff rates at ABF lodgement.
⚠For food-contact or children's plastic products, require FSANZ migration test results and AS/NZS 8124 compliance evidence from the Chinese manufacturer prior to export.
⚠Inspect hollow plastic items such as outdoor furniture legs for soil or organic matter, as DAFF biosecurity intervention applies and can result in treatment or re-export costs.
⚠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
⚠A valid ChAFTA Certificate of Origin (or origin declaration by approved exporter) is required to claim preferential tariff rates under ChAFTA, and must be presented to the ABF at time of entry
⚠Anti-dumping and countervailing duties apply to a range of Chinese goods including steel reinforcing bar, hollow structural sections, aluminium extrusions and A4 copy paper - importers must check the Anti-Dumping Commission register before clearing goods
⚠Electrical and electronic goods must comply with the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) regulatory arrangements and meet mandatory EESS (Electrical Equipment Safety System) registration requirements before sale in Australia
⚠Biosecurity declarations are mandatory for goods containing or made from timber, bamboo, plant materials or organic packing material, with DAFF inspections and possible treatment orders applying at the Australian border

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 China — duty, GST, IPC, and biosecurity included.

Calculate Landed Cost Find HS Code with AI

Other product categories imported from China

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.84Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof Ch.87Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling-stock, and parts and accessories thereof Ch.61Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, knitted or crocheted Ch.62Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, not knitted or crocheted Ch.94Furniture; bedding, mattresses, mattress supports, cushions and similar stuffed furnishings; luminaires and lighting fittings, not elsewhere specified or included; illuminated signs, illuminated name-plates and the like; prefabricated buildings