Machinery Importers Australia

Want to import machinery in Australia? What you need to know

Australia exercises strict biosecurity measures designed to protect plant and animal health.

• All machinery imported into Australia must be free from contamination such as seeds, soil, plant and animal materials
• The Department of Agriculture has the power to export contaminated machinery from Australia at the importer’s or owner’s expense
• Most used imported machinery requires an import permit issued by the department prior to arrival

Machinery and parts used in agriculture, mining, earthmoving, construction, animal farming, timber felling, horticulture, fruit handling and food processing are all subject to import conditions. Universal Customs Brokers can advise on Full import conditions and permit requirements

New and used machinery pose different levels of biosecurity risk and are treated differently. Used machinery includes machinery or parts that have come into contact with soil, animal or plant materials when trialled or tested.

Do I need a permit?

Import permits are generally required for used machinery that has come into contact with soil, animal or plant material. This applies to both break bulk and containerised machinery. Import permits must be applied for prior to arrival. Please contact Universal Customs Brokers for permit applications.

How clean is clean?

Universal Customs Brokers can liaise with Quarantine officers on all aspects of importing machinery. It is the importer’s responsibility to ensure their machinery arrives in Australia free from BRM.

Australian import conditions require machinery to be clean on arrival. Contamination such as soil, animal or plant material, food refuse and other BRM breaches import conditions. Measures such as painting over contamination are not acceptable. If import conditions are not met, e.g. there appears to have been no attempt to clean the machine, it will not be released and may be exported at the importer’s expense. The department has developed a number of cleaning guides for earthmoving and mining machinery that may assist importers and offshore cleaners to meet Australia’s stringent import conditions.

How do I avoid delays when importing used machinery?

If a biosecurity officer can access all areas of a machine and confirm it is free from BRM, it may be released directly from the wharf or storage facility. This is the most efficient way to import used machinery into Australia.

Machinery may require dismantling for effective cleaning before importing into Australia. In order to meet import conditions and prevent delays, please ensure machinery cleanliness is maintained during transport. Machinery transported in a clean and dismantled state may be released following an inspection by the department.

How do I avoid delays when importing used machinery?

If a biosecurity officer can access all areas of a machine and confirm it is free from BRM, it may be released directly from the wharf or storage facility. This is the most efficient way to import used machinery into Australia.

Machinery may require dismantling for effective cleaning before importing into Australia. In order to meet import conditions and prevent delays, please ensure machinery cleanliness is maintained during transport. Machinery transported in a clean and dismantled state may be released following an inspection by the department.

What happens when my machine arrives?

All used machinery is inspected by a biosecurity officer when it arrives. Import conditions require all machinery and parts to be free from BRM. If import conditions are breached, your import permit may be revoked.

If machinery arrives in a heavily contaminated state, the department can order the machine to be exported from Australia at the importer’s or owner’s expense.

If minor levels of BRM are detected on your machinery or if the biosecurity officer cannot access all areas of the machine to inspect, your consignment will be directed to your Universal Customs brokers Quarantine Approved Premise (QAP).

Universal Customs Brokers are aware of the department’s requirements. It is the cleaning depots responsibility to remove all BRM and any disassembly if required for the department inspection. If the inspection fails, further cleaning will be required before a re–inspection can occur. Biosecurity officers can advise the QAP operator what needs to be cleaned. The fee for these cleaning services is set by Universal Customs Brokers QAP. For information and questions on fees charged by your QAP, please contact Universal Customs Brokers  directly. The department charges fees for documentation processing, import permit applications and all inspections.

Contact us today for further assistance on importing machinery into Australia.