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importing.com.au

4 min read · Updated October 2026

Illustration for the guide: Glossary of Import Terms

Key takeaways

  • VoTI is the GST base: customs value + duty + transport & insurance.
  • SAC = the simple declaration for goods at or under AUD 1,000.
  • BICON tells you the biosecurity conditions for any commodity from any country.

Glossary of Australian Import Terms

Term Meaning
ABF Australian Border Force — customs regulator
ABN Australian Business Number — business identifier for tax/customs
AICIS Australian Industrial Chemicals Introduction Scheme
ARTG Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods
AS/NZS Australian/New Zealand Standard
BICON Biosecurity Import Conditions system (DAFF)
BMSB Brown Marmorated Stink Bug — seasonal biosecurity target
CIF Cost, Insurance, Freight (Incoterm)
CITES Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species
Customs value (CVAL) Value basis for duty — usually FOB price paid/payable
DAFF Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (biosecurity)
DDP / DAP Delivered Duty Paid / Delivered at Place (Incoterms)
Duty Customs duty, typically 5% general rate (0% common)
EESS Electrical Equipment Safety System
FOB Free On Board — price excluding international freight/insurance (also Incoterm)
FSANZ Food Standards Australia New Zealand
GST Goods and Services Tax — 10%, applied on imports via VoTI
HS code Harmonized System tariff classification code
ICS Integrated Cargo System — ABF electronic declaration platform
Incoterms International commercial terms defining buyer/seller responsibilities
LCL / FCL Less-than / Full Container Load (sea freight)
LCT Luxury Car Tax — 33% above threshold
LVIG Low Value Imported Goods (GST rules, ≤ AUD 1,000)
OGA Other Government Agency (permit-issuing regulator)
RCM Regulatory Compliance Mark (electrical/radiocomms)
SAC Self-Assessed Clearance declaration (≤ AUD 1,000 goods)
T&I Transport and Insurance (added to customs value for VoTI)
TCO Tariff Concession Order — duty-free concession
TGA Therapeutic Goods Administration
VoTI Value of Taxable Importation — GST base
WET Wine Equalisation Tax — 29%

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Frequently asked questions

What does VoTI mean?

Value of Taxable Importation — the base on which the 10% import GST is calculated: customs value + customs duty + international transport and insurance + any WET.

What is an HS code?

The Harmonized System tariff classification code that identifies your goods. It determines the duty rate, any restrictions, and FTA eligibility — look it up in the Australian Working Tariff on abf.gov.au.

What is the difference between FOB and CIF?

Both are Incoterms where risk transfers once goods are on board the vessel. Under FOB the buyer arranges and pays international freight and insurance; under CIF the seller pays freight and minimum insurance to the Australian port.

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