Importing Cocoa and cocoa preparations from Ghana into Australia (2026)

No Australia-Ghana FTA exists, so all cocoa and cocoa preparations attract full MFN tariff rates; the most critical compliance obligation for this combination is securing a DAFF biosecurity import permit before shipment, as raw cocoa beans from Ghana are a regulated plant-based biosecurity risk item subject to mandatory inspection and possible treatment on arrival.

No FTA — MFN rates applyHS Chapter 18

Compliance requirements

⚠Obtain a DAFF biosecurity import permit for raw cocoa beans prior to shipment from Ghana.
⚠Ensure all retail cocoa products meet FSANZ labelling rules including allergens and country of origin.
⚠Verify Ghanaian dairy-containing cocoa product suppliers appear on the approved establishment register.
⚠Raw cocoa beans are a DAFF-regulated biosecurity risk item — an import permit is required and consignments are subject to mandatory biosecurity inspection on arrival; fumigation or heat treatment may be directed by a biosecurity officer
⚠All food imports including cocoa products must comply with the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (FSANZ), including labelling requirements for allergens (milk, soy in chocolate), country of origin, and nutrition information panels for retail products
⚠Cocoa products with added dairy (milk chocolate, drinking chocolate mixes) may attract additional scrutiny under DAFF dairy import conditions — ensure supplier is listed on the approved country and establishment register
⚠Chocolate and cocoa products containing added sugar above certain thresholds, or combined with nuts or fruit, may shift the correct HS classification away from Chapter 18 into Chapter 17 or Chapter 19 — misclassification is a common audit trigger by the ABF
⚠Retail-packaged chocolate confectionery imported in commercial quantities is subject to ABF valuation scrutiny; ensure transfer pricing or related-party transactions are disclosed on the import declaration to avoid penalties under the Customs Act 1901
⚠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 (must state country of origin, unit price, total value in AUD or foreign currency with exchange rate)
bill of lading or airway bill
packing list (including net and gross weights, number of cartons, lot or batch numbers)
DAFF biosecurity import permit (mandatory for raw cocoa beans; check permit conditions for treatment requirements prior to shipment)
phytosanitary or health certificate issued by the competent authority in the country of export (required for raw agricultural cocoa and some processed forms)
manufacturer's certificate of analysis or food safety declaration (strongly recommended for cocoa butter and cocoa powder to satisfy FSANZ compliance evidence)

Import tip

For bulk cocoa beans and cocoa paste, engage your biosecurity treatment provider before the vessel departs — pre-arrival treatment documentation submitted with your DAFF permit application can avoid costly port demurrage while treatment is arranged after arrival in Australia.

Calculate the total landed cost for Chapter 18 goods from Ghana — duty, GST, IPC, and biosecurity included.

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Other product categories imported from Ghana

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 Ch.13Lac; gums, resins and other vegetable saps and extracts