Importing Lac; gums, resins and other vegetable saps and extracts from Ghana into Australia (2026)

No FTA exists between Australia and Ghana, so MFN tariff rates apply to all HS Chapter 13 goods; the most critical compliance obligation for this combination is securing a DAFF biosecurity import permit before shipment, as crude or minimally processed plant gums and resins from Ghana face strict inspection and potential treatment requirements under the Biosecurity Act 2015.

No FTA — MFN rates applyHS Chapter 13

Compliance requirements

⚠Apply for a DAFF biosecurity import permit before shipment, especially for raw gum arabic or unprocessed lac from Ghana.
⚠Declare MFN tariff classification accurately on the commercial invoice, confirming no preferential origin certificate is required.
⚠Verify APVMA registration status before importing any botanical pesticide concentrates such as pyrethrum extract.
⚠All plant-based gums, resins and extracts are subject to DAFF biosecurity assessment on arrival — many require an import permit under the Biosecurity Act 2015, particularly crude or minimally processed forms such as raw gum arabic or unprocessed lac
⚠Oleoresin capsicum and pepper-based extracts intended for personal defence sprays may be regulated as prohibited weapons in certain Australian states — confirm end-use and state-level legislation before importing
⚠Pyrethrum extract and other botanical pesticide concentrates must be registered with the APVMA (Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority) prior to import; unregistered agricultural chemicals cannot legally be imported for commercial use
⚠Gums and extracts used as food additives (e.g., guar gum E412, locust bean gum E410, shellac E904) must comply with Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) permitted additive schedules — verify the intended application matches an approved food use before lodging the import declaration
⚠TGA oversight applies to any extract presented as a therapeutic ingredient or listed medicine component; importers must hold appropriate TGA manufacturing or import licences, and the product may require inclusion on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG)
⚠No FTA exists between Australia and Ghana, so MFN (general) tariff rates apply to all goods; a standard commercial invoice and packing list are required but no preferential certificate of origin is needed
⚠Biosecurity Australia imposes strict inspection and treatment requirements on timber, wood products, and plant-based materials from Ghana under the Biosecurity Act 2015; import permits may be required for certain plant and animal products
⚠Cocoa, food products, and agricultural goods must comply with the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code and may be subject to inspection by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) for pesticide residues and contaminants
⚠Gold, precious metals, and jewellery imports from Ghana may require documentation to satisfy AML/CTF compliance obligations and must be accompanied by evidence of lawful origin to meet Australias obligations under the Kimberley Process and related commodity due diligence expectations

Key documents required

commercial invoice specifying botanical source species, country of origin, CAS number where applicable, and intended end-use
DAFF biosecurity import permit (where required for plant-derived material) and accompanying phytosanitary certificate issued by the exporting country's national plant protection organisation
certificate of analysis (COA) detailing purity, moisture content, microbial limits and absence of scheduled contaminants — required for both biosecurity and food/TGA compliance purposes
APVMA product registration evidence or import exemption documentation for any botanical pesticide or agricultural chemical extract
TGA import licence and ARTG listing reference for extracts classified as therapeutic goods or listed medicine ingredients

Import tip

Securing your DAFF biosecurity import permit before the shipment departs origin — rather than applying on arrival — eliminates costly wharf storage and potential directed treatment fees, which can exceed the duty liability itself for low-value bulk gum consignments.

Calculate the total landed cost for Chapter 13 goods from Ghana — duty, GST, IPC, and biosecurity included.

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Other product categories imported from Ghana

Ch.18Cocoa and cocoa preparations Ch.9Coffee, tea, maté and spices Ch.44Wood and articles of wood; wood charcoal Ch.71Natural or cultured pearls, precious or semi-precious stones, precious metals, metals clad with precious metal and articles thereof; imitation jewellery; coin Ch.8Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or melons Ch.63Other made up textile articles; sets; worn clothing and worn textile articles; rags