Importing Pharmaceutical products from France into Australia (2026)

No Australia-France FTA exists so MFN duty rates apply to all French pharmaceutical imports, and every product must be listed or registered on the ARTG before ABF will release the shipment at the border. The most critical compliance obligation for this combination is confirming both a valid TGA Import Licence and ARTG registration are in place prior to vessel departure from France.

No FTA — MFN rates applyHS Chapter 30

Compliance requirements

⚠Verify ARTG registration for each specific French pharmaceutical product before booking the shipment.
⚠Secure ODC permit at least 10-15 business days before shipment if goods are narcotic or psychotropic.
⚠Ensure commercial invoice from French supplier states country of origin and full CIF value for MFN duty assessment.
⚠All therapeutic goods for human use must be listed or registered on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG) before importation — ABF will hold shipments if the ARTG entry cannot be confirmed at the border
⚠The importer must hold a current TGA Manufacturing or Import Licence (issued under the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989) — this licence must match the specific goods being imported, and spot audits do occur
⚠Narcotic, psychotropic, and certain precursor substances require a permit from the Office of Drug Control (ODC) under the Narcotic Drugs Act before each shipment; permits are shipment-specific so plan lead times of 10–15 business days
⚠Biological medicines, vaccines, and any product of animal origin require DAFF biosecurity assessment and may need a Biosecurity Import Permit — cold-chain integrity documentation is also scrutinised at the border for temperature-sensitive biologics
⚠Goods exempt from ARTG registration (e.g. certain compounded medicines or personal use exemptions) still require a formal TGA exemption reference to be cited on the import declaration to avoid ABF detention
⚠No FTA exists between Australia and France, 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 for duty purposes
⚠Alcoholic beverages including wine and spirits (Chapter 22) are subject to Australian Border Force import permits and must comply with Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) labelling requirements including country of origin and allergen declarations
⚠Cosmetics, perfumes and pharmaceutical goods (Chapters 30 and 33) must meet Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) or NICNAS/AICIS registration requirements before importation, and French CE marking alone is not accepted as proof of Australian compliance
⚠Biosecurity Act 2015 controls apply to any goods containing animal or plant material including leather goods, wooden components, natural cork and floral products, which may require biosecurity inspection or treatment on arrival in Australia

Key documents required

commercial invoice citing ARTG registration or listing number for each product line
TGA Import Licence or Manufacturing Licence copy (held by the importer of record)
Office of Drug Control (ODC) import permit for controlled substances (Schedule 8 or precursor chemicals)
Certificate of Analysis (CoA) and Manufacturer's Certificate of GMP Compliance or equivalent TGA-accepted GMP clearance
DAFF Biosecurity Import Permit and cold-chain temperature records for biologics, vaccines, or animal-derived products

Import tip

Lodge your ODC controlled substance import permit application at least three weeks before the vessel or aircraft departs origin — ODC permits cannot be expedited after shipment, and a single missing permit number on the import declaration will result in ABF referral and potential destruction of the consignment.

Calculate the total landed cost for Chapter 30 goods from France — duty, GST, IPC, and biosecurity included.

Calculate Landed Cost Find HS Code with AI

Other product categories imported from France

Ch.22Beverages, spirits and vinegar Ch.33Essential oils and resinoids; perfumery, cosmetic or toilet preparations 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.87Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling-stock, and parts and accessories thereof Ch.62Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, not knitted or crocheted