Importing Plastics and articles thereof from Japan into Australia (2026)

Importing Chapter 39 plastics from Japan under CPTPP can attract preferential tariff rates, but a valid origin declaration or Certificate of Origin must be lodged at entry; food-contact and children's plastic products carry mandatory FSANZ and ACCC compliance obligations that apply regardless of FTA status.

✓ FTA Active: CPTPPHS Chapter 39

Free Trade Agreement

Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership

Chapter 39 goods originating in Japan may qualify for preferential duty rates under CPTPP. Goods must meet the rules of origin and be accompanied by a valid certificate of origin.

View CPTPP rates and requirements →

Compliance requirements

⚠Obtain a CPTPP origin declaration or Certificate of Origin from the Japanese exporter before lodging the import entry.
⚠For food-contact plastics, secure supplier migration test results or a food-grade declaration confirming FSANZ Standard 1.4.3 compliance prior to shipment.
⚠Children's plastic products must meet AS/NZS 8124 and all relevant ACCC mandatory safety notices before customs clearance is granted.
⚠Food-contact plastics (containers, wrapping film, cutlery) must comply with FSANZ standards — suppliers should provide a food-grade declaration or migration test results confirming compliance with FSANZ Food Standards Code Standard 1.4.3
⚠Plastic items containing wood, soil, plant material or organic matter in cavities (e.g. outdoor furniture with hollow legs) trigger DAFF biosecurity inspection and may require treatment or re-export under the Biosecurity Act 2015
⚠Children's plastic products (toys, feeding items) are subject to the ACCC's mandatory consumer product safety standards — importers must ensure compliance with AS/NZS 8124 and relevant ACCC product safety notices before customs clearance
⚠Anti-dumping measures are actively applied to plastics from China and other countries — check the ABF Anti-Dumping Commission register before shipment, particularly for PVC products, polyethylene film and styrene polymers, as duty liabilities can be substantial and retrospective
⚠Plastic packaging subject to the Australian Packaging Covenant (APCO) and state-based container deposit schemes may impose downstream obligations on brand owners and importers — not a customs hold-up but a compliance cost that surprises new importers
⚠A CPTPP origin declaration or Certificate of Origin must be presented at time of import entry lodgement to claim preferential tariff rates under Schedule 1 of the Customs Tariff Act 1995; self-declaration by approved exporters is accepted under CPTPP rules
⚠Anti-dumping and countervailing duty measures administered by the Anti-Dumping Commission apply to certain Japanese steel products including hot-rolled coil and reinforcing bar; importers must check the measures register prior to shipment to avoid significant additional duty liability
⚠All electrical and electronic goods must comply with Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) standards and the Electrical Equipment Safety System (EESS); importers are responsible for ensuring products meet applicable Australian standards such as AS/NZS requirements before placing goods on the market
⚠Biosecurity import conditions under the Biosecurity Act 2015 apply to timber, wooden packaging, and any goods with residual organic material; all wooden pallets and crates must be ISPM 15 treated and marked, and goods may be subject to inspection or treatment on arrival by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

Key documents required

commercial invoice with full polymer type description (e.g. HDPE, PET, PP) and HS subheading declared by supplier
bill of lading or airway bill
packing list with net and gross weights per SKU
food-grade declaration or third-party migration test certificate for any food-contact plastic articles
ACCC supplier declaration or test report for children's plastic products subject to mandatory safety standards

Import tip

Declaring the specific polymer type and form (e.g. 'polypropylene, in primary forms, random copolymer' vs 'articles of polypropylene') in the commercial invoice prevents ABF tariff reclassification disputes — the boundary between Chapters 39 and 40, and between primary forms and finished articles, is a common audit trigger that delays clearance and generates amendment costs.

Calculate the total landed cost for Chapter 39 goods from Japan — duty, GST, IPC, and biosecurity included.

Calculate Landed Cost Find HS Code with AI

Other product categories imported from Japan

Ch.87Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling-stock, and parts and accessories thereof 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.72Iron and steel Ch.40Rubber and articles thereof Ch.90Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories thereof