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

No FTA exists between Australia and Kenya so MFN general tariff rates apply to all Chapter 13 goods; critically, Kenyan-origin plant-based gums and resins such as raw gum arabic are classified as high-risk plant material under the Biosecurity Act 2015 and will require a valid import permit and possible on-arrival inspection at the Australian first port of entry before release.

No FTA — MFN rates applyHS Chapter 13

Compliance requirements

⚠Apply for a DAFF biosecurity import permit before shipment, particularly for crude or minimally processed gums and resins of Kenyan origin.
⚠Ensure the commercial invoice specifies the exact botanical source, processing level and intended end-use to support biosecurity and tariff classification.
⚠If importing pyrethrum extract — a major Kenyan export — confirm APVMA registration is in place before the goods depart Kenya.
⚠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 Kenya 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 import conditions on Kenyan agricultural products including cut flowers, fresh produce, plant material and hides - import permits and offshore treatment or inspection on arrival at an Australian first port of entry are commonly required under the Biosecurity Act 2015
⚠Tea, coffee and food products from Kenya must comply with the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code including labelling, permitted additives and contaminant limits; the Department of Agriculture may conduct documentary and physical checks under AQIS protocols
⚠Leather and animal-derived products such as hides and skins require an import permit and may be subject to treatment requirements to address pest and disease risk; wooden packaging must comply with ISPM 15 heat treatment and marking standards or face rejection at the border

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 Kenya — duty, GST, IPC, and biosecurity included.

Calculate Landed Cost Find HS Code with AI

Other product categories imported from Kenya

Ch.9Coffee, tea, maté and spices Ch.6Live trees and other plants; bulbs, roots and the like; cut flowers and ornamental foliage Ch.7Edible vegetables and certain roots and tubers Ch.8Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or melons Ch.33Essential oils and resinoids; perfumery, cosmetic or toilet preparations Ch.63Other made up textile articles; sets; worn clothing and worn textile articles; rags