Pre-Shipment Checklist - Importing Machinery to Australia

You need to apply for an import permit at least 3 weeks before the goods arrive in Australia. Cost varies depending on the goods imported. Check the requirements at BICON Australian Biosecurity Import Conditions

If your machinery is on a trailer or could be for road use, you may also require a vehicle import approval.

GST/Duties are payable on all imports. Duty rates vary depending on the type of machinery imported. GST is 10% for all imports.
Duties are levied on the "Customs value" only, whereas GST is levied on the "Customs value" + duty + shipping costs.

All used machinery is inspected by Quarantine on arrival, and only after this inspection is the cleanliness condition known. Due to this, we can’t quote the cleaning costs. Further inspection and cleaning may be required as instructed by Quarantine and are not included in our quotations.

Biosecurity is seeing an increasing number of imported used machines with high levels of Biosecurity Risk Material (BRM). Used machinery can pose a high biosecurity risk if it is contaminated with BRM such as soil, animal or plant material. If machinery arrives in a heavily contaminated state, Biosecurity can order the machine to be exported from Australia at the importer’s or owner’s expense.

Importers are responsible for ensuring all machinery is adequately cleaned offshore prior to shipment. Machinery may require dismantling to be effectively cleaned. Import conditions require all machinery and parts to be free from BRM. If import conditions are breached, the import permit may be revoked.

Several resources are in place to help importers ensure that their machinery meets Australia’s biosecurity requirements. The Biosecurity website contains information on permits, import conditions, cleaning guides for specific machine types and tips on common problems incurred such as contamination during transport. Machinery Cleaning Guides and Checklists

Not compulsory, but worth asking us for a quote. Whilst the risk of damage to machinery is very low, it does cover you in the event of total loss. Find out why you need Marine Insurance

 Marine Insurance is not included unless itemised on the quotation. Don't take the risk and get a Marine Insurance Quote online. Takes less than 30 seconds.
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Machinery with air conditioning will need comply with the Ozone Protection Act.

Exemptions :

• An equipment licence (EQPL) is not required for equipment that has been:
• owned for more than 12 months, for private or domestic use before import; and
• is imported for private or domestic use in Australia.
• An equipment licence is not required for imports of up to 25 kilograms of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) or nitrogen trifluoride (NF3) equipment during a calendar year.

If you do not meet the above exemptions then you will need to have them degassed and decommissioned prior to export, a certificate from the HVAC vendor is required. It’s important to do this to avoid expensive pre-charged equipment licenses on arrival.

Summary

The importance of cleaning can’t be understated.