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Importing Beverages, spirits and vinegar from Israel into Australia (2026)

Australia has no FTA with Israel, so all Chapter 22 beverages attract full MFN tariff rates plus excise equivalent goods (EEG) charges on alcohol volume; Israeli wine imports additionally trigger Wine Equalisation Tax (WET) at 29% of wholesale value, making accurate LAL and valuation declarations the single most critical compliance obligation for this combination.

No FTA — MFN rates applyHS Chapter 22

Compliance requirements

  • Obtain an EEG permit and declare accurate LAL figures on the import entry to avoid ATO underpayment penalties.
  • Register for WET with the ATO before shipment arrives, as Israeli wine attracts 29% WET on top of GST.
  • Ensure all Israeli beverage labels are in English and meet FSANZ country of origin and allergen requirements before ABF release.
  • All alcoholic beverages require an Excise Equivalent Goods (EEG) permit — excise duty is payable to the ATO at importation via the ABF, calculated on alcohol volume; ensure accurate litres of alcohol (LAL) declarations to avoid underpayment penalties
  • Imported wine is subject to Wine Equalisation Tax (WET) at 29% of the wholesale value in addition to GST — WET must be declared on the import entry and importers must hold an ABN and be registered for WET with the ATO
  • All beverages in packaged form must comply with FSANZ Food Standards Code requirements, including country of origin labelling, ingredient declarations, and allergen statements — labels must be in English and compliant before goods are released from ABF control
  • Alcoholic beverages must comply with the Alcohol Beverages Advertising Code (ABAC) and any state/territory liquor licensing laws if the importer is also the vendor — some states require specific import or wholesale liquor licences before commercial transactions can occur
  • Biosecurity risk is low for most sealed beverages but wooden wine cases, cork closures in bulk, and any product with organic plant material in packaging may trigger DAFF biosecurity inspection — declare all packaging materials accurately to avoid delays at the border
  • No FTA exists between Australia and Israel so MFN (general) tariff rates apply to all goods; a commercial invoice and packing list confirming Israeli origin are required for entry documentation
  • Pharmaceutical and chemical products (Chapters 29, 30, 38) may require TGA registration or AICIS (formerly NICNAS) assessment prior to importation, and detailed safety data sheets must accompany shipments
  • Electrical and electronic goods (Chapter 85) must comply with ACMA regulatory arrangements including RCM marking under the Electrical Equipment Safety System (EESS) before being supplied in the Australian market
  • Biosecurity Act 2015 requirements apply to any organic material, food products, cosmetics or goods with plant or animal inputs; an Import Permit may be required and ABF biosecurity inspections are likely at the border

Key documents required

  • Commercial invoice showing unit price, total value, alcohol percentage by volume (ABV), and litres of alcohol (LAL) calculation
  • Bill of lading or airway bill
  • Health certificate or Certificate of Analysis (CoA) from the exporting country's food or beverage authority (commonly required for wine and spirits)
  • ATO Excise Equivalent Goods import permit or EEG registration confirmation
  • FSANZ-compliant label artwork or pre-clearance label assessment (strongly recommended for first-time importers of a new SKU)

Import tip

Submit your LAL calculation and ABV documentation to your customs broker before shipment departs — errors in alcohol volume declarations are the single most common cause of ATO compliance reviews and amended entries, and correcting them post-release attracts penalty interest.

Calculate the total landed cost for Chapter 22 goods from Israel — duty, GST, IPC, and biosecurity included.

Other product categories imported from Israel