We understand that buying and importing products from international brands can be challenging, rules and documentation requirements vary, depending on:
- Your country, its laws and regulations
- The products you are importing
- The country of origin of these products
As a retailer on Faire, you are the importer of record, and are responsible for ensuring you have the right to resell the products you purchase on Faire, in compliance with Australian law and regulation.
We want to help you feel confident buying from international brands.
This guide consists of tips and advice for Australian retailers buying and importing international products into Australia.
Please note, this resource is non-exhaustive and purely indicative.
To learn about general international guidance (not Australia specific), visit How to buy internationally on Faire
How to determine if you can buy, import and resell international products in Australia
To determine if the products you want to purchase from international brands can be imported, and resold in the Australia, we recommend:
- Consulting governmental websites to check if there are any restrictions or specific requirements for importing the products you wish to purchase internationally.
- Look into any license requirements, or permit you may need as an importer when purchasing certain products.
- Looking into potential restrictions enforced by your country, based on the country of manufacturing/origin of the products. To learn more, visit :
- Consulting legal counsel and/or a customs broker to determine your readiness to import given products from a given country.
Documentation and compliance requirements for the import of international products into Australia
Upon import of products, as the importer, you may be required to provide some information and/or documentation to support customs clearance of your order.
You will find non-exhaustive guidance below, to help understand what falls under your responsibility as the importer, if requested by Australian customs :
| Document type | Retailer responsibility | Brand responsibility |
| Documentation specific to your company (if applicable and required) | ✔️ | |
| License or permit to import specific controlled products | ✔️ | |
| Proof of right to resell | ✔️ | |
| Tax related identification for your company (?) |
✔️ |
|
| Importing registration number (ABN) | ✔️ | |
| Completion and Signature of forms for import (if applicable) |
✔️ |
|
|
POA letter (Power of Attorney) if applicable, Customs broker information
|
✔️ | |
|
-----------------------------
Packing slip |
✔️ | |
| Commercial invoice | ✔️ | |
| Documentation or information specific to manufacturing practices or information (if applicable) |
✔️ |
|
| Product specific documentation (if applicable) | ✔️ |
Faire does not possess or provide documentation or information specific to your company, your right to trade, purchase and import products into your country. This type of documentation has to be provided by yourself as the importer of record.
GST (Goods and Service Tax)
Please be advised that goods entering Australia may be subject to duty, Goods and Service Tax (GST), or any additional taxes that may be applicable.
These rates vary and depend on factors such as type of goods and country of origin. Along with any import declaration, duties and/or taxes that have been applied must be paid before the goods are cleared by customs.
To learn more about how GST is applied, visit:
How do I pay GST on orders in Australia?
How is VAT or GST calculated when promotions are applied to an order?
Customs broker
As a retailer buying internationally, you may contract a customs broker to help you with import regulations and compliance. If you have a customs broker, we recommend notifying the brand via Faire Messenger when you place your order, so they can include this on the commercial invoice prior to shipping your order.
To learn more about licensed brokerages in Australia, visit the Australian border Force’s Brokerages list.
If your customs brokerage information is included on the commercial invoice, they will be contacted at the time of import to clear the package on your behalf.
If your customs brokerage information is not provided on the commercial invoice, you will be contacted directly by the carrier to clear the package.
If you do not have a customs broker and want to authorize carriers to clear customs on your behalf, you will need to draft a POA (Power of Attorney) letter, and share it with the carrier upon request. Please note, this applies to tightly controlled product categories.
Tightly regulated product categories in Australia
When importing, you are required to comply with any import regulations as set out by the Australian Government, including, but not limited to, regulations for controlled goods. Importing controlled goods into your country/region may require additional authorization or clearance.
Below, we have listed some common controlled goods categories for which additional requirements may apply:
- Prohibited goods: to learn more about prohibited goods in Australia, visit Prohibited goods
- Controlled goods : products that require licenses or permits for import, or additional documentation from the importer.
- Dangerous goods (DG): Substances that when transported are a risk to health, safety, property or the environment. Certain dangerous goods that pose risks even when not being transported are known as hazardous materials.
- Minerals and biological products : Import of mineral and biological products is very tightly regulated in Australia, there are a lot of protective measures against potential invasive species, this includes products with mineral or biological composites. To learn more, visit the Biosecurity import conditions database and the biosecurity and trade resource.
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Plants, seeds, floral products
- To consult phytosanitary requirements, consult the Biosecurity import conditions database
-
Animal products An animal product is any material derived from the body of an animal, products containing animal substances
- To learn more, visit Prohibited goods : Animals and plants
- Asbestos (Most commonly found in gemstones, it strictly prohibited). To learn more, consult Prohibited goods : Asbestos
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Incense, Stones, product containing minerals, asbestos
- To learn more, visit the Biosecurity import conditions database
-
Pet food, pet food ingredients, and supplements for companion animals
- To learn more, this BICON resource or search the Biosecurity import conditions database
-
Sanitary and Phytosanitary products
- To learn more, visit Sanitary and phytosanitary measures
-
Plant and seed products
- Dried plants and/or invasive species
- Pet food : We recommend checking with each international brand before ordering, that their products comply with the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry regulations.
Please note, this list is non-exhaustive and purely indicative. Faire takes no responsibility in updating these websites, the resources linked are governmental pages only.
How do import duties work?
As the importer, you're responsible for any import duties or taxes charged on international shipments.
Import duties are based on the type and origin of the goods, as determined by tariff codes provided by the brand.
For more information on how import duties work, visit How do import duties work?
Please note, brands are responsible for providing the correct tariff codes for their products. The import duties estimate generated by Faire relies on these tariff codes being accurate.
What happens if customs agencies or carriers require additional information to import my order?
If you order products internationally, and additional information or documentation is required for customs clearance, upon entrance of the products into the EU or into your country : you might be contacted by a customs agent, carrier, Faire, or the brand you ordered from to provide the necessary information to help clear customs.
Here are a few things to keep in mind :
- You are the importer, the brand is the exporter.
- The customs agent and/or carrier may reach out to you via phone, or via Faire support on an email thread. The brand would most likely reach out via Faire Messenger.
- Faire cannot provide : documentation or information specific to your company, your right to trade, purchase and import products into your country. (i.e.: license, permit, certification, import declarations, etc.) This has to be provided by yourself as the importer.
- Orders can typically be “stalled” at a border for a limited time, (this tends to vary between 3 and 5 days maximum)
- As the importer, it is your responsibility to accept the order, and to facilitate import, providing any information required.
If you are unresponsive, or fail to provide the required information/documentation/license, the customs agency may decide to return the shipment. (Return to Sender). This decision is outside of Faire’s control.
Please note, Faire keeps record of failures to import international orders, as well as the cost associated with shipping these products back to the brands. Faire reserves the right to review your account as well as ability to order on the platform in accordance with our Terms of Service.