Importing Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates from Vietnam into Australia (2026)

Vietnamese seafood including prawns may attract anti-dumping measures on top of standard duties, so importers must verify the Anti-Dumping Commission register before each shipment and simultaneously lodge a valid AANZFTA Certificate of Origin (Form AANZ) to secure preferential tariff rates under AANZFTA.

✓ FTA Active: AANZFTAHS Chapter 3

Free Trade Agreement

ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement

Chapter 3 goods originating in Vietnam 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

⚠Check the Anti-Dumping Commission register before lodging each entry — prawn lines from Vietnam have been subject to dumping investigations.
⚠Obtain a DAFF biosecurity import permit before shipment arrives — live aquatic animals face strict pathway conditions and some species are prohibited.
⚠Secure CITES export and Australian import permits prior to shipment departure for any shark fin lines involving CITES-listed species.
⚠All fish and seafood imports require a DAFF (formerly DAWE) biosecurity import permit or must meet an approved arrangement — live aquatic animals face especially strict pathway conditions under the Biosecurity Act 2015 and many species are outright prohibited entry
⚠Shark fin imports are subject to CITES permit requirements for listed species (e.g. oceanic whitetip, hammerhead); both an export permit from origin and an Australian CITES import permit issued by DAFF are mandatory before shipment arrives
⚠Anti-dumping measures are active on certain seafood lines — notably prawns from specific countries have been subject to dumping investigations; importers must check the ABF Anti-Dumping Commission register before each shipment as measures and duty rates change
⚠Country of origin labelling under the Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) Food Standards Code and the Australian Consumer Law requires accurate origin disclosure on retail packaging; misrepresentation (e.g. labelling Vietnamese prawns as Australian) attracts serious ACCC enforcement action
⚠Seafood arriving with ice or in water (especially live product) must be declared to biosecurity officers on arrival regardless of value; failure to declare attracts infringement notices and the consignment may be seized or destroyed at the importer's cost
⚠An AANZFTA Certificate of Origin (Form AANZ) or a Declaration of Origin from an approved exporter must be provided at time of import entry to claim preferential FTA duty rates under the AANZFTA
⚠Anti-dumping and countervailing duties apply to certain Vietnamese goods including hollow structural sections, reinforcing bar, and aluminium extrusions - importers must check the Anti-Dumping Commission register before lodging entries
⚠All electrical and electronic goods must comply with Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) electromagnetic compatibility and electrical safety standards, and furniture and consumer products must meet mandatory Australian Consumer Law safety standards enforced by the ACCC
⚠Timber, wood products, and seafood from Vietnam are subject to strict DAFF biosecurity inspections and may require import permits - seafood must meet FSANZ food standards and be sourced from DAFF-approved Vietnamese establishments

Key documents required

DAFF Biosecurity Import Permit (mandatory for most fish and all live aquatic animals — apply well in advance as processing can take weeks)
Health certificate or sanitary certificate issued by the competent authority of the exporting country (must confirm product is fit for human consumption and free from specified pathogens)
CITES export permit from country of origin and Australian CITES import permit (required for all CITES-listed species including certain sharks, seahorses, and giant clams)
Commercial invoice with full species scientific name, product form, net/gross weight, country of harvest (not just processing), and unit price
Bill of lading or airway bill, packing list, and for chilled/frozen product, temperature logs or cold chain records to demonstrate integrity on arrival

Import tip

Lodge your biosecurity import permit application before booking freight — live and high-risk seafood permits can take 4–8 weeks to issue and the permit number must appear on shipping documentation; last-minute permit applications routinely cause costly demurrage and product loss at the border.

Calculate the total landed cost for Chapter 3 goods from Vietnam — duty, GST, IPC, and biosecurity included.

Calculate Landed Cost Find HS Code with AI

Other product categories imported from Vietnam

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.64Footwear, gaiters and the like; parts of such articles Ch.61Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, knitted or crocheted Ch.62Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, not knitted or crocheted Ch.94Furniture; bedding, mattresses, mattress supports, cushions and similar stuffed furnishings; luminaires and lighting fittings, not elsewhere specified or included; illuminated signs, illuminated name-plates and the like; prefabricated buildings