Importing Plastics and articles thereof from New Zealand into Australia (2026)

Plastics imported from New Zealand under AANZFTA can attract preferential duty rates, but importers must simultaneously satisfy Rules of Origin requirements and product-specific compliance obligations under FSANZ, ACCC, and DAFF depending on the end use of the plastic article.

✓ FTA Active: AANZFTAHS Chapter 39

Free Trade Agreement

ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement

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

View AANZFTA rates and requirements →

Compliance requirements

⚠Obtain a valid AANZFTA Certificate or Declaration of Origin confirming sufficient transformation or regional value content.
⚠Identify end use before shipment — food-contact, children's, or organic-cavity plastics each trigger distinct Australian compliance regimes.
⚠For food-contact plastic items, secure supplier migration test results confirming compliance with FSANZ Food Standards Code Standard 1.4.3 prior to lodging the import declaration.
⚠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 valid Certificate of Origin (COO) or Declaration of Origin must be presented to claim preferential AANZFTA duty rates, with goods needing to meet Rules of Origin requirements including sufficient transformation or regional value content thresholds
⚠All food and beverage imports from New Zealand must comply with the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (FSANZ), including correct labelling of ingredients, allergens, country of origin and nutritional information panels
⚠Biosecurity requirements under the Biosecurity Act 2015 are strictly enforced for New Zealand goods including dairy products, meat, timber, fresh produce and plant material, with import conditions available via DAFF BICON and potential mandatory inspections or treatments on arrival
⚠Imported wood and wood products including timber, pallets and packaging must meet Australian biosecurity measures and may require heat treatment or fumigation certification, while dairy and meat products require an Import Permit and must come from approved overseas establishments listed by the Department of Agriculture

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 New Zealand — duty, GST, IPC, and biosecurity included.

Calculate Landed Cost Find HS Code with AI

Other product categories imported from New Zealand

Ch.4Dairy produce; birds' eggs; natural honey; edible products of animal origin, not elsewhere specified or included Ch.2Meat and edible meat offal Ch.22Beverages, spirits and vinegar Ch.19Preparations of cereals, flour, starch or milk; pastrycooks' products Ch.84Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof Ch.48Pulp of wood or of other fibrous cellulosic material; recovered (waste and scrap) paper or paperboard