Importing Organic chemicals from South Korea into Australia (2026)

Organic chemicals imported from South Korea can attract KAFTA preferential tariff rates, but importers must simultaneously hold any required AFP or Home Affairs precursor permits and confirm AICIS registration status before the preferential entry is lodged, as origin concessions do not override Australian controlled substance or industrial chemical laws.

✓ FTA Active: KAFTAHS Chapter 29

Free Trade Agreement

Korea-Australia Free Trade Agreement

Chapter 29 goods originating in South Korea may qualify for preferential duty rates under KAFTA. Goods must meet the rules of origin and be accompanied by a valid certificate of origin.

View KAFTA rates and requirements →

Compliance requirements

⚠Obtain a KAFTA Certificate of Origin or Origin Declaration from the Korean exporter before lodging entry to claim preferential rates.
⚠Search the AICIS register and secure any required introduction notification or assessment prior to first importation of each chemical.
⚠Check the SUSMP scheduling and AFP precursor permit requirements for each substance before shipment departs Korea to avoid border seizure.
⚠Many bulk active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) require a TGA Manufacturing Site Licence or are subject to the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 — confirm scheduling and registration requirements before shipment, as some Chapter 29 substances are listed poisons under the SUSMP
⚠Certain organic chemicals classified as precursor chemicals under the Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulations 1956 — including some listed in Schedule 9 — require a permit from the Australian Federal Police or Home Affairs before import; failure to hold the permit results in seizure at the border
⚠Industrial chemicals not already registered on the Australian Industrial Chemicals Introduction Scheme (AICIS) register may require an introduction notification or assessment before first import — this applies even to low-volume research quantities, with penalties for non-compliance
⚠Goods shipped in bulk liquid form or with organic residues may trigger DAFF biosecurity intervention requiring treatment or re-export, particularly for used containers or goods of plant or animal origin derivation (e.g. amino acids, fatty acid derivatives)
⚠Anti-dumping measures are active on certain Chapter 29 products — notably citric acid from China (ADN 2014/55 and related reviews) — importers must check the ABF anti-dumping register and factor interim dumping duties into landed cost calculations before placing orders
⚠A KAFTA Certificate of Origin or Origin Declaration must be provided at time of entry to claim preferential tariff rates under KAFTA, with the exporter or producer attesting to Rules of Origin compliance
⚠Anti-dumping and countervailing duty measures are actively in force on certain Korean steel products including hot-rolled coil, plate and hollow sections - importers must check the ABF anti-dumping register prior to lodging entry
⚠Electrical and electronic goods must meet ACMA regulatory compliance requirements including RCM marking under the Electrical Equipment Safety System (EESS), and relevant AS/NZS standards must be demonstrated before goods are cleared
⚠Motor vehicles and automotive parts from Korea must comply with Australian Design Rules (ADRs) administered by the Department of Infrastructure, and used or second-hand vehicles are subject to strict biosecurity and asbestos-containing material (ACM) inspection requirements

Key documents required

commercial invoice with full chemical name, CAS number, HS code, and concentration or purity stated
Safety Data Sheet (SDS) compliant with the GHS (Globally Harmonised System) as adopted under Australian WHS regulations
AICIS introduction notification confirmation or exemption evidence where the substance is not on the Inventory
TGA import permit or licence documentation for scheduled substances or APIs regulated under the Therapeutic Goods Act
Certificate of Analysis (CoA) from the manufacturer confirming identity, purity, and grade — required by TGA, food-grade purchasers, and ABF for tariff classification disputes

Import tip

Always include the CAS (Chemical Abstracts Service) number on the commercial invoice and in the import declaration — this single step significantly reduces ABF and AICIS query rates, speeds up TGA screening, and removes ambiguity in tariff classification where INN or trade names alone are insufficient.

Calculate the total landed cost for Chapter 29 goods from South Korea — duty, GST, IPC, and biosecurity included.

Calculate Landed Cost Find HS Code with AI

Other product categories imported from South Korea

Ch.87Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling-stock, and parts and accessories 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.84Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof Ch.72Iron and steel Ch.39Plastics and articles thereof Ch.40Rubber and articles thereof