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importing.com.au

7 min read · Updated October 2026

Illustration for the guide: Product Compliance & Labelling

Key takeaways

  • Compliance must be built into production — brief suppliers before manufacturing, not after arrival.
  • Electrical and wireless goods need the RCM; high-risk equipment needs EESS registration.
  • Anything making a therapeutic claim (even sunscreen) is TGA territory and needs an ARTG entry.

Product Compliance & Labelling

Getting goods through the border is only half the job. To legally sell imported products in Australia, they must meet Australian product standards. Key principle: compliance must be built into production — brief suppliers before manufacturing, not after arrival.

Core labelling requirements (all consumer goods)

  • Country of origin clearly marked on product or packaging (and country-of-origin claims for food are separately regulated and policed by the ACCC).
  • English language for all required information.
  • Australian importer/distributor name and address (the local responsible entity).
  • Any mandatory safety warnings for the product category.

ACCC mandatory product safety standards (common categories)

Category Standard / requirement
Children's toys AS/NZS ISO 8124 (mechanical/physical, flammability, toxicity, choking hazards); button-battery mandatory standards (secure compartments, warnings)
Clothing & textiles Care labelling (AS/NZS 1957); children's nightwear flammability (AS/NZS 1249) with fire-danger labels
Sunglasses AS/NZS 1067 (UV protection labelling)
Toppling furniture, bunk beds, cots, strollers Category-specific mandatory standards (anchoring, entrapment, stability)
Cosmetic ingredient labelling INCI names in descending concentration order

Check the full list at productsafety.gov.au (ACCC). Non-compliance = recall, fines, and the ACCC can ban products.

Electrical & electronic goods — RCM

  • The RCM (Regulatory Compliance Mark) is mandatory for electrical and wireless/telecom devices.
  • Electrical safety under the EESS (Electrical Equipment Safety System): "prescribed" (high-risk, Level 3) equipment needs a Certificate of Conformity and registration of the Responsible Supplier (an Australian legal entity).
  • EMC and radiocomms compliance is regulated by ACMA (wireless devices need appropriate radio standards certification).
  • Get RCM testing/certification done at origin before shipping — far cheaper than border remediation. Detail in the electronics importing guide.

Food (FSANZ)

  • Regulated under the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code:
    • Ingredient lists, allergen declarations (bolded), Nutrition Information Panel, best-before/use-by dates, warnings (e.g., kava, royal jelly, caffeine).
    • Country-of-origin food labelling is mandatory and specific ("Made in…", "Packed in…", percentage bars).
  • High-risk foods (meat, dairy, seafood, some plant products) need DAFF import permits and BICON compliance.
  • Imported food is also inspected under the Imported Food Inspection Scheme (IFIS) — risk-based testing.

Therapeutic goods (TGA)

Deep dive: Importing Cosmetics, Skincare & Supplements.

  • Products that make therapeutic claims (medicines, medical devices, sunscreens, supplements with claims) must be in the ARTG (Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods) — an Australian Sponsor is required.
  • Sunscreens (even SPF cosmetics), hand sanitisers with claims, vitamins with claims = TGA territory.
  • Pure cosmetics (no therapeutic claims) don't need ARTG listing but follow cosmetic labelling rules.

Chemicals (AICIS)

  • Industrial chemicals (including many cosmetics ingredients, cleaning products) must comply with the Australian Industrial Chemicals Introduction Scheme: importer registration, ingredient categorisation, GHS labelling, Safety Data Sheets.

Vehicles & machinery

  • Must comply with Australian Design Rules (ADRs); road vehicles need RAV/approval pathways through infrastructure.gov.au.

Frequently asked questions

What labels are legally required on imported products sold in Australia?

At minimum: country of origin marking, English-language required information, the Australian importer/distributor name and address, and any mandatory safety warnings for the product category. Food, cosmetics and electrical goods have additional specific rules.

What is the RCM and do my products need it?

The Regulatory Compliance Mark is mandatory for electrical and wireless/telecom products sold in Australia. High-risk "prescribed" equipment also needs a Certificate of Conformity and EESS registration by an Australian Responsible Supplier. Arrange testing at origin before shipping.

Do imported supplements or sunscreens need TGA approval?

If a product makes therapeutic claims — including sunscreens and supplements with health claims — it must be entered in the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG) by an Australian Sponsor. Pure cosmetics without claims follow cosmetic labelling rules instead.

Does customs clearance mean my product is safe to sell?

No. Border clearance is not product-safety approval. ACCC mandatory standards apply independently, and non-compliant products can be recalled, fined or banned even after clearing customs.