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QR No.
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General
description of the restriction
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Type of restriction
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Tariff line
code(s) affected, based on HS (2022)
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Detailed
Product Description
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WTO
Justification and Grounds for Restriction, e.g., Other International
Commitments
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National legal
basis and entry into force
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Administration,
modification of previously notified measures, and other comments
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1
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Prohibition
on the import of engineered stone benchtops, panels and slabs into Australia
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NAL
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6802
6802.29.00
6802.99.00
6810
6810.19.00
6810.91.00
6810.99.00
6814
6814.10.00
6814.90.00
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Worked monumental or building stone (except slate) and articles
thereof, other than goods of 6801.00.00; mosaic cubes and the like,
of natural stone (including slate), whether or not on a backing;
artificially coloured granules, chippings and powder, of natural stone
(including slate)
Articles of cement, of concrete or of artificial stone, whether or not reinforced
Worked
mica and articles of mica, including agglomerated or reconstituted
mica, whether or not on a support of paper, paperboard or other materials.
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- Article
XX:(b) of the GATT 1994, measures necessary to protect human, animal or plant
life or health
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Customs
(Prohibited Imports) Amendment (Engineered Stone) Regulations 2024
Entry
into force: 1 January 2025
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From 1 January 2025, the Customs (Prohibited Imports) Amendment
(Engineered Stone) Regulations 2024 (Amendment Regulations) will come into
effect.
The Amendment Regulations amend the Customs (Prohibited Imports)
Regulations 1956 (Prohibited Imports Regulations), to prohibit the import of
engineered stone benchtops, panels and slabs into Australia. Since 1 July
2024, the manufacture, supply, processing and installation of engineered
stone slabs, panels, and benchtops has been prohibited in all Australian
states and territories for work health and safety reasons, under
jurisdictional work health and safety laws. Some jurisdictions have had a
transition period until 31 December 2024. To support this, the
Australian Government will implement a prohibition on the importation of
engineered stone benchtops, panels and slabs, commencing on 1 January 2025.
From this date, engineered stone (as defined below) benchtops, panels and
slabs, imported without a valid permit or exemption is classed as a prohibited
import, meaning it can be seized at the Australian border without a warrant.
As most engineered stone products are imported into Australia, the import ban
will provide an extra layer of deterrence at the border, further enhancing
these important measures to protect Australian workers. Engineered stone in
the Prohibited Import Regulations has the same meaning as in the Work Health
and Safety Regulations 2011 (Cth) (the WHS Regulations), as set out below.
Prohibited 'engineered stone' will be defined as an artificial product that
contains 1% or more crystalline silica (determined as a weight/weight (w/w)
concentration), is created by combining natural stone materials with other
chemical constituents (such as water, resins or pigments) and becomes
hardened. Engineered stone does not
include concrete and cement products, bricks, pavers and other similar
blocks, ceramic wall and floor tiles, grout, mortar and render, plasterboard,
porcelain products, sintered stone and roof tiles.
This
QR references the WTO documents: _G/MA/QR/N/AUS/7; _G/TBT/N/AUS/170; _G/TBT/N/AUS/170/Add.1
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