Importing Wood and articles of wood; wood charcoal from Ghana into Australia (2026)

No Australia-Ghana FTA exists, so MFN tariff rates apply to all Chapter 44 timber imports; the most critical obligation is satisfying the Illegal Logging Prohibition Act 2012 due diligence requirements, as Ghana is a high-risk tropical timber origin requiring documented proof of legal harvest before Australian customs clearance.

No FTA — MFN rates applyHS Chapter 44

Compliance requirements

⚠Obtain and retain Ghana Forestry Commission legal harvest documentation to satisfy Illegal Logging Prohibition Act due diligence obligations.
⚠Ensure all wood packaging and pallets carry valid ISPM 15 heat treatment certificates — DAFF will inspect and may detain non-compliant shipments.
⚠Check whether any timber species (e.g. rosewood, ebony) require CITES export permits from Ghana and a DAFF import permit before shipment.
⚠All unprocessed or semi-processed timber and wood products are subject to strict DAFF biosecurity inspection on arrival — heat treatment (HT) or methyl bromide fumigation certificates to ISPM 15 standard are mandatory for wood packaging and pallets
⚠Australia's Illegal Logging Prohibition Act 2012 requires importers to conduct due diligence confirming timber was legally harvested in the country of origin — failure to maintain documented supply chain records is a criminal offence with significant penalties
⚠Certain timber species (e.g. rosewood, merbau, ebony) may be subject to CITES permits under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act — both export permits from origin country and DAFF import permits are required before shipment
⚠Anti-dumping measures are currently in force on particular wood products from specific countries including certain plywood and engineered wood panels from China — check the ABF Anti-Dumping Commission register before lodging an import declaration
⚠Engineered wood products such as MDF and particleboard must comply with Australian formaldehyde emission standards (AS/NZS 2098) and may be subject to ACCC scrutiny if used in domestic furniture or cabinetry
⚠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 with species name (common and scientific), country of harvest, and volume in cubic metres
phytosanitary certificate issued by the national plant protection organisation of the exporting country
ISPM 15 compliant heat treatment or fumigation certificate for all wood packaging material
due diligence documentation under the Illegal Logging Prohibition Act (supplier declarations, chain of custody certificates such as FSC or PEFC)
CITES export and import permit (required for Appendix I and II listed timber species)

Import tip

Declare the timber species by scientific name on the commercial invoice before shipment — DAFF biosecurity officers may place a hold on consignments where species cannot be confirmed, and reclassification disputes at the border over hardwood versus softwood tariff subheadings are far easier to resolve with pre-arrival documentation than after goods are detained in a biosecurity facility.

Calculate the total landed cost for Chapter 44 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.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