Import Regulations - Austria

Australia has a number of bilateral agreements with Austria, including on social security. Texts of bilateral treaties are available at the AUSTLII site. Austria's great economic potential, and the recent growth in Australia's export to this country, provides scope for further market opportunities in goods and services.

Import tariffs
Austria is part of the harmonised trade system of the European Union. Common Customs Tariff (CCT) is applicable to all goods from non-EU member-states (including Australia). The majority of duties are ad valorem based on the WTO valuation system. Special rates apply to a small number of goods.
Before shipping goods to Europe an importer should get a written customs duty ruling from the Austrian customs service. The rulings are called Binding Tariff Information (BTI). Obtaining a BTI is free and will prevent any conflict over customs or excise duty.

Customs service contacts:
Director General for Customs and Excise
Bundesministerium fur Finanzen
Himmelpfortgasse 4-8
A-1011 Wien
Austria
Tel:  +43 1 514 330      
Fax: +43 1 513 9860

Import non-tariff barriers
Goods subject to import licensing are notified in a detailed list, which may be subject to different changes.
Animal, plant and food goods: agricultural products are protected by quota, managed by a licensing system. Import of specified products without a quota license is prohibited. This list includes: cereals; rice; beef and veal; sugar; isoglucose; oils and fats; seeds; milk and milk products; wine; processed fruit and vegetables; sheep meat; buffalo meat; goat meat. Exemptions include: goods valued under US $ 500 and under 20 kg if sent by air or post; goods valued under US $ 2,500 if sent by other means of transport. Other imports require only notification of intent to import.

Goods including textiles, steel, footwear, ceramic goods, toys, porcelain, and glass products originating in some non-European Union member-states are subject to quota restrictions.