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

No Australia-Germany FTA exists, so MFN tariff rates apply to all Chapter 84 machinery imports from Germany; the most critical compliance obligation is registering responsible suppliers with ACMA for RCM compliance before shipment to avoid ABF holds on motor-driven or electrical plant.

No FTA — MFN rates applyHS Chapter 84

Compliance requirements

⚠Verify ACMA RCM registration for any electrical or motor-driven machinery before the vessel departs Germany.
⚠Check the Anti-Dumping Commission public register for German steel-component machinery subject to countervailing measures.
⚠Obtain ARC licence and ODS/SGG import permit prior to shipment if machinery contains HFCs or HCFCs.
⚠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 Germany, so MFN (general) tariff rates apply to all goods; a commercial invoice or EUR.1 movement certificate may be requested by the ABF to verify origin but confers no preferential duty benefit
⚠Anti-dumping and countervailing measures administered by the Anti-Dumping Commission may apply to certain steel, aluminium, and chemical products from Germany; importers should check the public register prior to shipment to avoid unexpected duty liabilities
⚠Electrical and electronic goods must comply with Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) electromagnetic compatibility and electrical safety standards; many products require a Regulatory Compliance Mark (RCM) before supply into the Australian market
⚠Biosecurity Act 2015 requirements apply to any goods containing or associated with timber packaging, plant material, or animal-derived inputs; wooden pallets and crates must meet ISPM 15 treatment standards and goods may be subject to inspection or treatment on arrival by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

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

Calculate Landed Cost Find HS Code with AI

Other product categories imported from Germany

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.30Pharmaceutical products Ch.90Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories thereof Ch.38Miscellaneous chemical products Ch.39Plastics and articles thereof