SUMMARY
Self-governing member of the Commonwealth. An OECD country.
Capital:
Canberra.Port(s):
Adelaide (South Australia), Brisbane (Queensland), Fremantle (Western Australia), Hobart (Tasmania), Launceston (Tasmania), Melbourne (Victoria), Newcastle (New South Wales), Perth (Western Australia), Port Kembla (New South Wales), Sydney (New South Wales).Population:
19,731,984 (July 2003 estimate).International Country Code:
AU.Information generally also applies to Christmas Island (Indian Ocean), Cocos-Keeling Islands and Norfolk Island.
LANGUAGE(S)
English.
WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
Metric system.
ELECTRICITY SUPPLY
220/250v. 50 cycles AC.
CURRENCY(-IES)
1 Australian dollar (AUD) = 100 cents.
EXCHANGE RATE
2.36 AUD = £1 sterling (fluctuating rate).
INTERNATIONAL DIRECT DIALLING CODE(S)
00 61.
TIME
Australia is ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) as follows:
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Summer time
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Winter time
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Adelaide
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+10.5
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+8.5
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Brisbane
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+10.0
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+9.0
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Canberra
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+11.0
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+9.0
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Darwin
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+10.5
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+8.5
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Hobart
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+11.0
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+9.0
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Melbourne
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+11.0
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+9.0
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Perth
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+8.0
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+7.0
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Sydney
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+11.0
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+9.0
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Australia is divided into three time zones:
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Western Standard Time is plus 8 hours from GMT (Western Australia)
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Central Standard Time is plus 9.5 hours from GMT (Northern Territory, South Australia)
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Eastern Standard Time is plus 10 hours from GMT (Tasmania, Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland).
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PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
1, 26 (Australia Day) Jan; 25 (Anzac Day) April; 27 (Queen’s Birthday) Sept; 4 (Labour Day) Oct; 25, 26 Dec, and the following, which have variable dates: Good Friday and Easter Monday.
ENQUIRIES
Australian High Commission, Australia House, The Strand, London WC2B 4LA. Tel: 020 7379 4334, fax: 020 7240 5333, website: www.australia.org.uk (Link to an external site - Disclaimer 
) — office hours: Mon-Fri: 0900–1700.
) — office hours: Mon-Fri: 0900–1700.The Australian Trade Commission in London, address as above. Fax: 020 7632 0098, e-mail: london@austrade.gov.au — website: www.austrade.gov.au (Link to an external site - Disclaimer ).
).AGENTS-GENERAL:
Victoria: The Agent-General, Australia Centre, The Strand, London WC2B 4LG. Tel: 020 7836 2656, fax: 020 7240 6025.
Queensland: The Agent-General, 392 The Strand, London WC2R 0LZ. Tel: 020 7836 1333, fax: 020 7420 8770.
South Australia: The Agent-General, Australia Centre, The Strand, London WC2B 4LG. Tel: 020 7887 5124, fax: 020 7887 5332.
Western Australia: The Agent-General, Australian Centre, The Strand, London WC2R 0AJ. Tel: 020 7240 2881, fax: 020 7240 6637.
BRITISH HIGH COMMISSION
Commonwealth Avenue, Yarralumla, Canberra. Tel: 00 61 2 6270 6666, fax: 00 61 2 6273 3236, e-mail: bhc.canberra@uk.emb.gov.au — website: www.uk.emb.gov.au (Link to an external site - Disclaimer )
)CHAMBER(S) OF COMMERCE
Australian-New Zealand Chamber of Commerce, 34–35 Southampton Street, London WC2E 7HE. Tel: 020 7379 0720, fax: 020 7379 0721, e-mail: enquiries@anzcc.org.uk — website: www.anzcc.org.uk (Link to an external site - Disclaimer ).
).Australian–British Chamber of Commerce, Level 16, The Gateway, 1 Macquarie Place, Sydney, New South Wales 2000. Tel: 00 61 2 9247 6271, fax: 00 61 2 9247 6671, e-mail: abcc@britishchamber.com — website: www.britishchamber.com (Link to an external site - Disclaimer ).
).Australian–British Chamber of Commerce, Level 17, 90 Collins Street, Melbourne VIC 3000. Tel: 0061 03 9650 6000, fax: 0061 03 9650 4422, e-mail: abccvic@britishchamber.com — website: www.britishchamber.com (Link to an external site - Disclaimer ).
).IMPORT RESTRICTIONS
The majority of goods can be freely imported but Australia does have some import restrictions similar to the UK, eg firearms, explosives, certain chemicals such as precursors, etc. There are import quotas for textiles, clothing, footwear and motor vehicles but these do not generally affect direct supplies from the UK/EU. Also Australia is strict about hygiene standards and the packaging of food.
EXCHANGE CONTROL
Administered by the Reserve Bank with considerable discretionary powers delegated to authorised trading banks.
BILL(S) OF LADING
No regulations. May be made out “to order”. Despatch with other documents by air mail without delay in order to expedite customs clearance by checking prior to arrival of goods.
CERTIFICATES OF ORIGIN
None but country of origin should be named on the invoice.
COMMERCIAL INVOICES
No special form required, but country of origin must be clearly shown along with value of goods and the number of pieces and weight of consignment. As a general rule, four copies of the invoice will be sufficient. Metric units should be used on all invoices. Facsimile signatures are accepted by Customs on copies provided the original invoice is manually signed. When goods are shipped “on consignment”, that fact must be shown in the invoice. Invoices should also show FOB value and ancillary charges separately. You may also quote the customer’s Australian Business Number (ABN) on the invoice (not mandatory but can assist Customs clearance; see Duties below) which replaced the Sales Tax Number when the Goods and Services Tax (GST) was introduced.
SPECIAL CERTIFICATE(S)
Certificates of age required for spirits except gin. Certificates of health required for certain foodstuffs, plants and livestock. Household brushes and toothbrushes must be supplied with a certificate of sterilisation.
MARKING OF GOODS
Goods of the following classes are required to be marked with a statement of origin, and in some cases with further particulars: articles of, or used in the manufacture of food and drink, medicines and medicinal preparations, manures, agricultural seeds, plants, textile products, boots and shoes, jewellery, brushware, chinaware and enamelled ware, electrical appliances, powder puffs, toys, cigarette papers and cigarette tubes, portland cement, sanitary and lavatory articles of earthenware etc, tiles, watches and clocks. Exporters of any of these classes of goods are advised to consult the Australian Desk at UK Trade & Investment (tel: 020 7215 5000), regarding the relevant marking requirements. There are detailed regulations affecting all packaged goods.
PACKING MATERIAL
Hay, straw or chaff are prohibited unless permission has been obtained from the Director of Quarantine. Packing Cases: The Australian Department of Health has issued Quarantine Regulations covering acceptable methods for treatment of wood used for packing cases, case inserts, pallets, dunnage etc. These methods include a comprehensive list of chemical impregnations and heat, immersion and fumigation treatments. Names of suppliers of treated timber can be obtained from the following associations:
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(a)
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impregnation method: British Wood Preserving Association, 1 Gleneagles House, Vernon Gate, Derby DE1 1UP. Tel: 01332 225100, fax: 01332 295904.
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(b)
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fumigation method: British Pest Control Association, 1 Gleneagles House, Vernon Gate, Derby DE1 1UP. Tel: 01332 294288, fax: 01332 295904.
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A certificate of packing on the export company’s headed paper, signed by a senior member of the export company and stating precise details of method of treatment, should be sent with the other shipping documents direct to the consignee.
As the majority of goods are sent to Australia in containers, it is essential that the above regulations are complied with otherwise there will be serious delays.
SHIPPING ARRANGEMENTS
Liner shipping services: CMA/CGM (UK) Ltd; P&O; Nedlloyd; Southern Cross Line; Marfret Line; Contship Containerlines; JS Containerline Ltd; Mediterranean Shipping Company; Cosco UK; Wallenius Wilhelmsen Line; HUAL; MISC (UK).
AIR FREIGHT
Qantas; British Airways World Cargo.
SAMPLES
Provided they are being re-exported within 12 months of the date of import, samples will be admitted on payment of deposit equal to duty leviable.
Temporary importation of commercial samples, professional equipment and goods for exhibitions can be made under an ATA Carnet (see ATA Carnets in Documents) as long as the goods are exported from Australia within 12 months of the issue date of the Carnet.
BANK(S)
National Australia Bank; Australia and New Zealand Banking Group; Commonwealth Bank of Australia; Westpac Banking Corporation; Citibank Australia; Standard Chartered.
DUTIES
Assessed at specific rates and/or ad valorem on the FOB value. There is a Goods and Services Tax (GST) of 10 per cent imposed on all goods entering Australia. There are some exceptions to this tax, in particular fresh food. If the importer does not have a sales tax number, a nominal 22 per cent is added to CIF value. The Australian tariff is based on the Harmonised System (see Customs Nomenclatures in Terminology).
UK REGULATIONS
All goods must be declared to Customs on leaving the EC (generally arranged by the freight forwarder/carrier). The export declaration for shipments leaving the EC from a UK port or airport is via the electronic system known as NES. All goods subject to Export Controls (ie covered by an export licence — SIEL, OGEL or OIEL), coming under CAP regulations or otherwise controlled under Customs regulations (eg under IPR/OPR, etc) must be exported with a full declaration unless the shipper is authorised to use one of the simplified NES procedures. All shipments must be given a Unique Consignment Reference (UCR) made up of the shipper’s VAT No., TURN and export reference, eg invoice number.
Export Controls: Some classes of goods are controlled under national and EU regulations, eg military goods and dual-use technology. For UK supplies, these are listed on: www.dti.gov.uk (Link to an external site - Disclaimer ) under Export Control. Other goods not listed in the statutory instruments may be controlled if their end-use involves chemical, biological or nuclear weapons or the means of delivering them. Controlled dual-use goods (goods capable of being used for civil or military purposes but not specially designed for military purposes) can mostly be moved freely within the EU and to certain non-EU countries under the Community General Export Authorisation (CGEA). Controlled dual-use goods to Australia comes under the CGEA. It is recommended that subscribers seek advice from the DTI Export Control Organisation Helpline on: 020 7215 8070.
) under Export Control. Other goods not listed in the statutory instruments may be controlled if their end-use involves chemical, biological or nuclear weapons or the means of delivering them. Controlled dual-use goods (goods capable of being used for civil or military purposes but not specially designed for military purposes) can mostly be moved freely within the EU and to certain non-EU countries under the Community General Export Authorisation (CGEA). Controlled dual-use goods to Australia comes under the CGEA. It is recommended that subscribers seek advice from the DTI Export Control Organisation Helpline on: 020 7215 8070.This information was taken from Croner's Reference Book for Exporters.
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