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

Australia has no FTA with Portugal, so all Chapter 39 plastic imports attract MFN general tariff rates, meaning a correctly completed commercial invoice or EUR.1 certificate confirming non-preferential Portuguese origin is essential to avoid tariff classification disputes at the border. The most critical compliance obligation for this combination is ensuring that food-contact or children's plastic products sourced from Portuguese suppliers are accompanied by FSANZ migration test results or AS/NZS 8124 conformity evidence before Australian customs clearance.

No FTA — MFN rates applyHS Chapter 39

Compliance requirements

  • Obtain a EUR.1 or detailed commercial invoice confirming non-preferential Portuguese origin to support correct MFN tariff assessment.
  • For food-contact plastic items, secure FSANZ Standard 1.4.3 migration test results from the Portuguese supplier before shipment departs.
  • Inspect hollow plastic products such as outdoor furniture for soil or organic matter to avoid DAFF biosecurity intervention on arrival.
  • 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 Portugal so MFN (general) tariff rates apply to all imports; a commercial invoice or EUR.1 movement certificate may be required to confirm non-preferential origin for tariff classification purposes
  • Electrical and electronic goods including machinery must comply with Australian safety and electromagnetic compatibility standards and may require ACMA registration or RCM marking before being placed on the Australian market
  • Timber, cork products (Chapter 44 and 45), wine, olive oil and other organic or plant-based goods are subject to strict DAFF biosecurity inspection and may require a valid phytosanitary certificate issued by Portuguese authorities prior to export
  • Anti-dumping and countervailing duty measures administered by the ABF should be checked for relevant steel, aluminium and ceramic tile products of EU origin, as Portugal-origin goods falling within active measures will attract additional duties on top of MFN rates

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

Other product categories imported from Portugal