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How to Import Organic Japanese Tea to Australia (2026 Updated)
Updated July 2026: This guide has been revised to reflect Australia’s current import rules — including the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) that now runs biosecurity and imported-food checks, the fact that pure green tea (HS 0902) needs no import permit and comes in duty-free and GST-free as a basic food, the Plain English Allergen Labelling rules that became fully mandatory once the stock-in-trade period ended on 25 February 2026, confirmation that JAS-certified Japanese tea can be sold here as “organic” without re-certification, and the absence of any Fukushima-related radiation controls.
While we all know how much Australia loves its hot chocolate, you might be surprised to learn that tea demand is increasing in Australia. Reports show that around 61.1% of Australians drink hot tea. Tea has not been a popular beverage in the region previously, yet the tea import to Australia has increased in the past decade. Apart from black tea, the market has excellent opportunities for green tea. Black hot tea is popular among older Australians, whereas the younger generation thinks of green tea as a healthy drink.
What Kind of Tea is Popular in Australia?
Australians are more inclined towards premium-quality products and do not hesitate to pay the price for them. Apart from top-quality coffee and tea, they are experimenting with flavored herbal tea and adapting the flavors rapidly. The tea market is expanding beyond regular tea, and more flavor combinations are seen on the shelves in Australia. People are looking for brands with exclusive flavors and histories that bring the best quality tea to consumers. If you are willing to import an exquisite variety of tea flavors to Australia, don’t think a lot about it. It is high time for importers to import tea products to the region as people are more open to trying new combinations now.
Can You Bring Anything to Australia?
The answer is a mix of Yes and No. You may bring materials and products to Australia depending on the category they fall in and how the government treats them. For example, importing wood into Australia requires you to prove that the manufacturing process eliminates the chances of pests. The goods are also inspected once they enter the region to make sure that they would not harm the environment or the people in any way.
Can You Import Organic Tea to Australia?
The increasing demand for tea in the region makes it challenging to cope with the demand without importing. Some of the top-selling tea companies and vendors in Australia belong to the country itself. You can import Japan’s flavorful organic tea as well if you meet all the import conditions of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF). Let’s tell you all you need to know about Organic Japanese Tea Import to Australia.
Food Control Certificate
Importing Organic Tea from Japan comes under Food Import in Australia and is monitored by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. Importing any food product into Australia requires you to have a Food Control Certificate that ensures food quality.
To get a Food Control Certificate, you need to submit an application that complies with the rules of the Imported Food Control Act 1992. They are as follows:
- The applicant must prepare the application in a manner prescribed by the regulations.
- It must be submitted by the owner of the food (a person who relates to the application).
- Contain all information as per the regulations.
- You must communicate the application to an authorized officer.
An authorized officer reviews the application before giving the Food Control Certificate. It may require investigation of the ingredients of the product to ensure food safety.
Import of Plant-Based Food such as Organic Tea
The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry monitors all the plant-based products imported into Australia. The department makes sure that the food is fine for consumption and ensures that it does not pose any risks to the environment. They evaluate the imported food as per:
Food Safety Requirements
The food imported to Australia must meet the food security requirements mentioned in the Imported Food Control Act 1992. The imported food items may be inspected and tested under the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (FSC), which is set by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ). These requirements ensure that the food is fit to be consumed by humans and does not contain any impurity or toxic compounds.
Biosecurity Requirements
Biosecurity requirements are an important part of Australia’s import conditions. They inspect the products to all critical standards to avoid the risk of introducing diseases and harmful pests that may harm the agricultural industries and the environment. Before you decide on importing a product to Australia, check the Biosecurity Import Conditions system (BICON) to see if:
- Australia allows the import of the commodity you wish to bring to the country.
- The offered commodity is allowed to be imported from the particular country you are importing from.
- You have taken care of all the terms and conditions of import like documentation, quality standards, packaging, etc.
How to Apply for BICON Import Permit
To import Organic Japanese Tea to Australia, you must know the ingredients you’re bringing into the country and look if any of these ingredients need an import permit for bringing into the company. Obtaining a BICON Import Permit is very simple, and you can get it without hassle. It is better to apply for the permit long before the product reaches Australia, as you would need to show the permit at the time of receiving. In practice, tea made only from Camellia sinensis leaves — green tea, matcha powder or plain tea bags — is treated as a minimal biosecurity risk, so on its own it does not need an import permit or a mandatory inspection on arrival. Herbal and blended teas are handled differently, and since 2024 herbal tea bags have followed a document-controlled Compliance-Based Intervention Scheme pathway. Because BICON conditions can change, look up the current tea case in BICON for your exact product before every shipment.
Here’s how you can apply for an import permit for your food-based product
- Go to BICON website and enter your credentials to log in.
- Once logged in, you can find the option to apply for a permit.
- Fill in all your details.
The officials review the application and issue an import permit if you comply with all the rules and regulations. This process takes some time.
You can also enter your information and save the application as a draft to edit later.
What if the Application Does Not Get Accepted?
If your application for an import permit does not get accepted, you can ask for an internal review under the Biosecurity Act. Address the Director of Biosecurity in your application and mention your concerns regarding the cancellation of the application. The Director of Biosecurity or an authorized officer reviews the process and the Administrative Appeals Tribunal may externally review it.
Import Conditions for Organic Tea from Japan to Australia
If you are looking to import plant-based products such as tea to Australia, here are a few conditions that you must comply with.
- The ingredients in the product must only be plant-based.
- The documents must be complete with the scientific names of ingredients and packaging details.
- The label must show that all the ingredients are dry.
- The product must be free from any material that can cause harm to the environment or agricultural industry of Australia. It must not contain contaminated seeds, soil, plant debris or animal components.
- The consignment must have complete documentation to avoid unpacking the products for investigation. Consignments without proper documents do not require a full unpack inspection.
- If any plant debris, soil or animal material is found on inspection, the consignment will be sent back, disposed of or treated by use of a suitable means.
What Penalties Come With Import Offence?
If you are importing a food item into Australia, such as tea, you will be held accountable if:
- The food is not up to the standards
- The food poses a risk to human health
- There is a fault in labeling
If the importer is liable for any offenses mentioned above, they will have to face 10-year imprisonment.
FAQs
How to create an account on BICON?
- Visit the BICON website.
- Click on “Register for a new account.”
- Add all required details to create a new account.
How much time does it usually take for an import permit application to process?
The authorities take around 20 days to respond to an import permit application. However, the period may increase or decrease depending on your application.
How much does the import permit cost?
When you apply for an import permit to Import Organic Japanese Tea to Australia, an application levy of $120 is applicable, followed by an assessment fee of $240 under Category 3 of Non-standard goods. The assessment fee varies for different categories of products. Keep in mind that a shipment of pure green tea usually does not need a permit at all, so these fees only come into play if your product falls into a category that does require one — always confirm against the current BICON case.
Do you have to pay import duty or GST on Japanese green tea?
Green tea sits under tariff heading 0902, and the Australian Customs Tariff sets its general (Most-Favoured-Nation) duty rate at Free, so 0% duty applies whatever the country of origin. The Japan-Australia Economic Partnership Agreement, in force since 15 January 2015, also gives a 0% rate if you claim origin. Australia’s standard GST is 10%, but tea is treated as a basic food and is GST-free when it is sold for home brewing — loose leaf, tea bags, instant preparations and matcha powder marketed as tea all qualify. The exception is tea sold ready-to-drink, such as a brewed iced tea or a cafe cup, which is taxable at 10%.
Can JAS-certified Japanese tea be sold as “organic” in Australia?
Yes. Australia has no mandatory organic standard for goods sold on its own domestic market, and the ACCC confirms that certification is not legally required for a product to be described as organic here. That means JAS-certified Japanese organic tea can be marketed as “organic” without re-certifying it to any Australian scheme. The claim still has to be truthful and able to be backed up — a misleading organic claim breaches the Australian Consumer Law — and holding the JAS certificate is strong evidence. A separate government-to-government organic equivalence arrangement between Australia and Japan also exists and was broadened to cover alcoholic beverages from 1 October 2025, but that arrangement governs the export-certification pathway rather than how imports are labelled at retail.
Are there any Fukushima or radiation controls on Japanese tea?
No. Australia stopped radionuclide border testing of food imported from Japan, tea leaves included, on 23 January 2014, after monitoring from 2011 to 2014 found every sample well below the limits. There are no Fukushima-related certification or radiation-testing requirements on Japanese tea entering Australia in 2026.
What has to go on the label?
Packaged tea has to meet the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code: a legible English name for the food, an ingredient list, any allergen declaration, net weight, date marking, and the name and Australian business address of the importer or supplier, along with a lot code for traceability. A country-of-origin statement is also required, but tea is classed as a non-priority food, so a plain text line such as “Product of Japan” is enough — the kangaroo graphic with the bar chart used on priority foods is not needed. One change to watch: Plain English Allergen Labelling is now fully mandatory, because the two-year stock-in-trade sell-through window closed on 25 February 2026. Plain green tea has nothing to declare, but flavoured blends, matcha latte mixes and gift sets that contain milk, soy, tree nuts or wheat must now show those allergens in bold, in the prescribed plain-English format.
Key Takeaway
Importing Organic Japanese Tea to Australia requires the importers to comply with all the rules and regulations of import as designed by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. The products are evaluated under the Imported Food Control Act 1992 before allowing an import permit for the product. The fee and need for an import permit depend on the kind of product along with listed ingredients. Register yourself at BICON to have a look at all the requirements and apply for an import permit.
Need Assistance on Japanese Tea Importation to Australia?
This shipping and importation of Japanese tea in your country have been a long-standing service that we offer. Therefore, if you are interested in Japanese Tea importation either as a business or you simply want to have a taste of quality, authentic Japanese tea, you may contact us through this website, and we are more than happy to assist you.
Click here to contact Green Tea Merchant
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About the author
Kei Nishida
Author, CEO Dream of Japan
Certification: PMP, BS in Computer Science
Education: Western Washington University