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MOVING
TO AUSTRALIA - CUSTOMS AND QUARANTINE DECIPHERED
All countries have laws regarding
what can and cannot be imported in order to protect their land and
citizens. Though people moving to Australia can import most of their
household goods and personal effects, some items cannot be imported
and there are certain measures that need to be taken to comply with
Australia’s Customs regulations and Quarantine laws to ensure
the country stays free of agricultural diseases that exist elsewhere.
Household goods & personal effects
Upon arrival of an air or sea shipment into Australia, the consignment
travels under bond from the airport/port to the moving company’s
warehouse where it is unloaded, and a physical examination by a
quarantine officer made.
Customs will apply duty and tax on alcohol, tobacco and items owned
less than 12 months.
Quarantine will order the destruction or treatment of items deemed
to not comply with regulations. In order to avoid quarantine treatment,
ie steam-cleaning, fumigation or gamma irradiation – the following
measures should be taken prior to shipping goods:
- all shoes, golf clubs, outdoor furniture, bicycles,
plant pots, gardening equipment, pet items etc should be thoroughly
cleaned of soil and dirt (steam-cleaning costs can be as much as
$440)
- vacuum cleaner bags should be removed (destruction cost $150)
- items such as dried pot pourri, Christmas decorations with pine
cones, dried twig/flower arrangements should not be shipped (gamma
irradiation treatment can cost up to $660)
- food largely should not be shipped though some items are allowed
entry
- furniture with wood borers should not be shipped (fumigation cost
$550)
- stuffed animals, shells and other animal derived products should
not be shipped as they are either banned or require an import permit
Motorised vehicles & trailers
Motorbikes, cars, boats, trailers, motorised farming equipment etc
CANNOT be imported without an import permit. The shipper must be
an Australian national or permanent resident, ie temporary work
visa holders cannot import motor vehicles. The vehicle must have
been owned and used for a minimum of 12 months in order to be issued
a permit. Motorbikes, boats, trailers and other motorised items
will incur 10% GST and cars incur 10% duty and 10% GST (on the CIF
value, ie cost, insurance and freight cost of the vehicle). A compliance
process must be undergone in order to determine if the vehicle is
roadworthy so an import permit does NOT necessarily mean that the
state road authority will allow the vehicle on its roads.
Pets
Cats and dogs can be imported from many countries as long as certain
quarantine measures are followed. Depending on the country of origin,
a rabies vaccination is given followed by a blood (titre) test 30
days later. Assuming a negative rabies result, the pet in effect
commences its ‘quarantine’ period in its own home and
150 days later will be allowed entry into Australia for the mandatory
30 days in a quarantine centre. Export and import permits, pre-flight
vet inspections, and other vaccinations and treatments and booking
of Australian quarantine boarding are all part of the process and
should be managed by an international pet transport company.
Written by Sophie Dillon, General Manager of
Moving Strategies.
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