Importing Miscellaneous chemical products from Finland into Australia (2026)

No Australia-Finland FTA exists, so MFN general tariff rates apply to all Chapter 38 chemical imports from Finland; the single most critical compliance obligation is securing a valid AICIS registration or confirmed exemption before the goods arrive at an Australian port, as ABF will verify this against the SDS submitted with the import declaration.

No FTA — MFN rates applyHS Chapter 38

Compliance requirements

⚠Confirm AICIS registration or exemption is current before shipment departs Finland to avoid costly border holds.
⚠Cross-check the Finnish SDS hazard classifications against your declared HS code to eliminate ABF audit triggers.
⚠Determine whether any biocide or disinfectant preparations require APVMA registration before lodging the import declaration.
⚠Many Chapter 38 chemicals are regulated under the Industrial Chemicals Act 2019 — importers must hold a valid AICIS (Australian Industrial Chemicals Introduction Scheme) registration or exemption before importation; non-compliance carries significant civil penalties
⚠Certain chemical preparations (e.g. biocides, disinfectants) may be captured by the APVMA as agricultural or veterinary chemical products, requiring separate registration under the Agvet Code — classification as Chapter 38 versus Chapter 38 under APVMA jurisdiction must be resolved before lodging the import declaration
⚠Dangerous Goods declarations under the IMDG Code or IATA DGR are required for many Chapter 38 substances; ABF will cross-check the MSDS/SDS against the tariff description, and mismatches between declared HS codes and SDS hazard classifications are a common audit trigger
⚠Goods containing controlled precursor chemicals (e.g. certain solvents and reagents) may require a permit from the Australian Federal Police or relevant state/territory authority under the Criminal Code Act — check the precursor chemical schedules prior to ordering
⚠Anti-dumping measures are actively in force on certain Chapter 38 goods originating from China, including sodium hypochlorite and selected surfactant-based preparations — verify the ABF anti-dumping register at time of importation as duty liability can be substantial and retrospective
⚠No FTA exists between Australia and Finland, so MFN (general) tariff rates apply to all goods. A commercial invoice and packing list are required, but no preferential certificate of origin is needed as no preference is claimable.
⚠Electrical and electronic goods from Finland must comply with Australian electrical safety standards and may require ACMA registration or RCM (Regulatory Compliance Mark) approval before importation and sale in Australia.
⚠Timber, wood products, paper pulp and any goods containing plant-based materials are subject to DAFF biosecurity inspection and may require a phytosanitary certificate issued by Finnish authorities, given Finlands significant forestry and paper manufacturing sector.
⚠Chemicals and industrial preparations imported under HS Chapter 38 must comply with NICNAS (AICIS) industrial chemical notification requirements, and Safety Data Sheets must meet Australian GHS formatting standards for customs and quarantine clearance.

Key documents required

commercial invoice with full chemical composition, CAS numbers, and concentration percentages
Safety Data Sheet (SDS) compliant with the GHS (Globally Harmonised System) — mandatory for hazardous chemical imports
AICIS introduction registration certificate or exemption confirmation letter
Dangerous Goods declaration or IMDG/IATA shipper's declaration (where applicable)
Certificate of Analysis (CoA) from the manufacturer — required by ABF for verification of tariff classification and by AICIS for volume reporting

Import tip

Including CAS numbers and exact chemical concentrations on the commercial invoice upfront prevents ABF from issuing a Customs Intervention requiring an SDS review, which can add 3–5 business days to clearance for time-sensitive chemical shipments.

Calculate the total landed cost for Chapter 38 goods from Finland — duty, GST, IPC, and biosecurity included.

Calculate Landed Cost Find HS Code with AI

Other product categories imported from Finland

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.47Pulp of wood or of other fibrous cellulosic material; recovered (waste and scrap) paper or paperboard Ch.48Pulp of wood or of other fibrous cellulosic material; recovered (waste and scrap) paper or paperboard Ch.90Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories thereof Ch.87Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling-stock, and parts and accessories thereof