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

No FTA exists between Australia and Netherlands, so all Chapter 39 plastic imports attract MFN tariff rates with no preferential concessions available; the most critical compliance obligation is ensuring food-contact or children's plastic products from Dutch suppliers are accompanied by FSANZ migration test results or AS/NZS 8124 conformity evidence before lodging the import declaration.

No FTA — MFN rates applyHS Chapter 39

Compliance requirements

⚠Obtain FSANZ-compliant food-grade declarations from Dutch suppliers for any food-contact plastic items prior to shipment
⚠Inspect hollow plastic articles such as outdoor furniture for soil or organic matter to avoid DAFF biosecurity intervention
⚠Confirm MFN duty rate at the 8-digit tariff classification level and include all Dutch freight and insurance costs in the customs value
⚠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
⚠No FTA exists between Australia and Netherlands so MFN (general) tariff rates apply to all imports; a formal Certificate of Origin is not required for preferential purposes but may be requested by the ABF to confirm non-preferential origin for statistical or anti-dumping purposes
⚠ACMA regulatory compliance is mandatory for all electrical and electronic goods including telecommunications equipment; suppliers must provide declarations of conformity and relevant test reports prior to import
⚠Biosecurity declarations and potential DAFF inspection apply to any goods containing plant material, dairy-derived inputs, or biological reagents, which is particularly relevant for Netherlands agricultural inputs, cut flowers, seeds, and food products
⚠Therapeutic goods including pharmaceuticals and medical devices must be registered or listed on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG) administered by the TGA before importation; Netherlands is a major pharmaceutical exporter and this is a critical compliance step

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

Calculate Landed Cost Find HS Code with AI

Other product categories imported from Netherlands

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.30Pharmaceutical products Ch.90Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories thereof Ch.87Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling-stock, and parts and accessories thereof Ch.38Miscellaneous chemical products