Import Regulations – Fiji

Major Australian exports to Fiji is  wheat, liquefied propane and butane, man-made fabrics and woven cotton fabrics.

Import tariffs
One-column tariffs are grounded on the Harmonised System. Fiscal duties are chiefly ad valorem (%) assessed on a cost, insurance and freight (CIF) value (Incoterms 1990). Units used in assessing special duties are levied according to good. Special rates may be slightly altered due to a regulation requiring metric quantities.

Non-tariff import barriers
Import control is exercised through adherence to rules covering the following 5 classes of restricted goods: absolute prohibitions; prohibited unless specified conditions are complied with; prohibited unless covered by an import licence issued by the Minister of Finance; prohibited unless covered by an import licence issued by the Permanent Secretary for Trade and Commerce; prohibited from importation under other laws.

Good certification, labelling and packaging
Labelling and marking: outer containers must bear consignee's mark and port mark and must also be numbered (to accord with packing list) unless its contents can be otherwise readily identified.

There are no legislative rules regarding marketing or labelling of goods.

Packaging: packing of grass, straw, chaff and sacking is banned.

Goods must be securely packed, having due regard to the nature of the products, means of transport and likely climatic conditions during transit and delivery.

Import documentation: commercial invoice; Bill of lading (airway bill); Packing list.

Fax signatures are not allowed on original documentation. As the time taken for cargo to reach Fiji from Eastern Australia is rather short, it is important that documentation necessary for clearing the products through customs be dispatched in time to effect prompt clearance.