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Importing Wood and articles of wood; wood charcoal from New Zealand into Australia (2026)

Importing Chapter 44 wood products from New Zealand under AANZFTA can attract preferential or even zero duty rates, but importers must simultaneously satisfy the Illegal Logging Prohibition Act 2012 due diligence obligations by documenting that all timber was legally harvested in New Zealand before lodging the preferential claim.

✓ FTA Active: AANZFTAHS Chapter 44

Free Trade Agreement

ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement

Chapter 44 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 Rules of Origin compliance before shipment.
  • Prepare and retain Illegal Logging Prohibition Act due diligence records covering the full New Zealand supply chain.
  • Ensure all wood packaging and pallets carry ISPM 15 heat treatment certificates to satisfy DAFF biosecurity requirements on arrival.
  • All unprocessed or semi-processed timber and wood products are subject to strict DAFF biosecurity inspection on arrival — heat treatment (HT) or methyl bromide fumigation certificates to ISPM 15 standard are mandatory for wood packaging and pallets
  • Australia's Illegal Logging Prohibition Act 2012 requires importers to conduct due diligence confirming timber was legally harvested in the country of origin — failure to maintain documented supply chain records is a criminal offence with significant penalties
  • Certain timber species (e.g. rosewood, merbau, ebony) may be subject to CITES permits under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act — both export permits from origin country and DAFF import permits are required before shipment
  • Anti-dumping measures are currently in force on particular wood products from specific countries including certain plywood and engineered wood panels from China — check the ABF Anti-Dumping Commission register before lodging an import declaration
  • Engineered wood products such as MDF and particleboard must comply with Australian formaldehyde emission standards (AS/NZS 2098) and may be subject to ACCC scrutiny if used in domestic furniture or cabinetry
  • 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 species name (common and scientific), country of harvest, and volume in cubic metres
  • phytosanitary certificate issued by the national plant protection organisation of the exporting country
  • ISPM 15 compliant heat treatment or fumigation certificate for all wood packaging material
  • due diligence documentation under the Illegal Logging Prohibition Act (supplier declarations, chain of custody certificates such as FSC or PEFC)
  • CITES export and import permit (required for Appendix I and II listed timber species)

Import tip

Declare the timber species by scientific name on the commercial invoice before shipment — DAFF biosecurity officers may place a hold on consignments where species cannot be confirmed, and reclassification disputes at the border over hardwood versus softwood tariff subheadings are far easier to resolve with pre-arrival documentation than after goods are detained in a biosecurity facility.

Calculate the total landed cost for Chapter 44 goods from New Zealand — duty, GST, IPC, and biosecurity included.

Other product categories imported from New Zealand