Prohibited and Restricted Imports in PNG: What You Can’t Ship and What Needs a Permit

Key takeaways

• Import controls sit mainly in the Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulation 1973 and related laws.
• Some goods are prohibited absolutely; others can be imported only with a permit or licence from the responsible agency.
• Prohibited goods include objectionable material, counterfeit currency, illicit drugs, certain weapons, white or yellow phosphorus matches and non-biodegradable plastic shopping bags.
• Importing restricted goods without a permit can lead to seizure and prosecution.

How PNG controls imports

PNG’s import controls are set out mainly in the Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulation 1973, made under the Customs Act, together with laws administered by other agencies. The regulation lists goods and the authority responsible for each.

Goods fall into two broad groups. Some are prohibited absolutely and can’t be imported under any circumstances. Others are prohibited unless the importer holds a permit, licence or approval from the responsible agency. In practice, most of the problems importers run into involve the second group.

Goods you can’t import

Goods prohibited from import into PNG include:

• objectionable material, including pornographic books, magazines, films and recordings;
• counterfeit banknotes and coins;
• narcotics and recreational drugs;
• certain weapons and accessories, such as firearm silencers;
• matches containing white or yellow phosphorus;
• non-biodegradable plastic shopping bags;
• machines for games of chance;
• literature intended to incite hostility against the government or between communities.

This isn’t a complete list. Always check the current schedule on the PNG Customs website or with your broker.

Goods that need a permit or approval

Other goods, including some chemicals and specialised equipment, can also require approvals. The prohibited imports schedule names the responsible agency for each item.

Rules can change quickly

Import restrictions aren’t static. In August 2015, PNG imposed a moratorium on import permits for fresh foods, including fruit, vegetables and uncooked poultry. It was revised a few months later and partly lifted in January 2016.

Episodes like this show why it pays to check the current position for each shipment, particularly for food and agricultural products, rather than relying on what applied last time.

How to check your goods

1. Identify the tariff classificationWork out the HS code for each product with your broker or supplier.
2. Check the prohibited imports scheduleSee whether the goods are prohibited absolutely or need a permit.
3. Identify the responsible agencyFind out which authority issues the permit, licence or approval.
4. Apply before you buy or shipAllow time for the application to be assessed, and don’t ship until it’s approved.
5. Match the paperworkMake sure the permit holder, description and quantities match your invoice and shipping documents.

What happens if you get it wrong

Importing prohibited or restricted goods without a permit, or making a false declaration, can lead to the goods being seized, and in serious cases the vessel or vehicle carrying them. Importers can be prosecuted, and their future shipments targeted for closer checks.

Biosecurity breaches can also end with goods being destroyed or re-exported at the importer’s expense.

A note on dangerous goods

Dangerous goods such as fuels, gases, batteries, chemicals and explosives aren’t necessarily prohibited, but they must be correctly classified, packed, labelled and declared, and carriers will only accept them on approved services. Some, such as explosives for mining, also need permits from the relevant authorities.

Frequently asked questions

More on customs and import requirements

Sources

• PNG Customs Service: import procedures
• PNG Customs Service: prohibited imports
• World Trade Organization: PNG import restrictions profile

Written by

Philip Thomas

Philip is the lead author and editor at Phantom8. He writes practical guides to shipping freight into Papua New Guinea, with a focus on choosing the right port, clearing customs and planning the inland leg.

Read Philip’s profile