Exporting plush and merchandise to Australia

Australia has no pre-market approval for toys, but suppliers must meet the mandatory standards enforced by the ACCC: small parts for toys up to 36 months, toys containing magnets, lead and other elements, and button and coin batteries. Stuffed toys carry a 5% general duty, with preferential rates available for Vietnam-origin goods.

Checked 9 Nov 20261 requirements for plush3 sources

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At a glance

Import duty from Vietnam
Stuffed animal toys (9503.00.30): 5% general rate (ABF Schedule 3); Vietnam-origin goods can claim preferential rates under AANZFTA, CPTPP or RCEP with origin documents.
Tax at import
GST 10%.
Marks
No toy mark; RCM for electrical products.
Key document
Test reports against the mandatory standards, kept by the supplier.
Labels
English; age grading and warnings where required.
Responsible party
The Australian supplier (importer) is responsible for compliance.

Easy to miss

  • Up to 36 monthsToys for young children must not release small parts during play or after reasonable wear.
  • Button batteriesFour mandatory standards; compartments must be secured and warnings shown.
  • Active enforcementThe ACCC issues recalls and takedown requests to marketplaces for non-compliant toys.

Requirements by product

Pick your product. Indicative checklist from Takara’s market rule set; the accredited lab confirms the final scope.

Plush & toys1 test

  • Test
    Mandatory toy standards (AS/NZS ISO 8124)

    Mandatory standards apply, for example small-parts rules for toys for children up to 36 months; retailers commonly ask for full AS/NZS ISO 8124 testing.

Apparel1 label

  • Label
    Care Labelling information standard

    Permanent care instructions on clothing and textiles, plus country-of-origin labeling.

Drinkware1 test

  • Test
    Food Standards Code (food-contact materials)

    Packaging and food-contact items must not contaminate food; retailers usually ask for migration test reports.

Electronics3 tests

  • Test
    Mandatory toy standards (AS/NZS ISO 8124)

    Mandatory standards apply, for example small-parts rules for toys for children up to 36 months; retailers commonly ask for full AS/NZS ISO 8124 testing.

  • Test
    Button/coin battery mandatory standards

    Products with button or coin batteries need secure compartments, compliance testing and warnings.

  • Test
    RCM (electrical safety & EMC / radio)

    In-scope electrical equipment is registered and tested for safety and EMC or radio compliance, then carries the RCM mark.

Selling through retailers or under license (2 more)
  • Audit
    Retailer test protocol & factory audit

    Major retailers usually set their own lab test protocol and require a social-compliance audit (for example amfori BSCI or Sedex SMETA) at the producing partner factory. These programs are generally practical for relatively large orders.

  • Audit
    Licensor approvals & factory program

    Licensors approve the concept, pre-production and final samples, and some (for example Disney FAMA) require production at an authorized partner factory. Authorized facilities are limited and generally practical for larger orders.

How Takara handles it

  1. Declare the marketList every market and retailer at inquiry. It sets the tests and the eligible partner factories.
  2. Design for testingComponents, colors and labels are chosen so testing stays clear and affordable.
  3. Test before productionAccredited labs test the approved sample and risky components on production materials.
  4. Label and documentMarks, local-language labels and your importer’s documents are ready before shipment.

Custom plush for export starts at 1,000 pieces per design, because testing is a fixed cost per design.

Read next

Toy safety matrix

Questions

Do toys need certification to be sold in Australia?

There is no pre-market approval, but toys must meet the ACCC’s mandatory standards, and suppliers should hold test reports to show it.

What duty applies to plush from Vietnam?

The general rate for stuffed animal toys is 5%. Vietnam-origin goods can claim preferential rates under AANZFTA, CPTPP or RCEP with origin documents. GST of 10% applies.

Sources

Checked on 9 November 2026. General information, not legal or customs advice: confirm the rate for your exact tariff code and the requirements for your product with a customs broker or accredited lab.

  1. ABF, Customs Tariff Schedule 3, Chapter 95
  2. Product Safety Australia, toys up to 36 months mandatory standard
  3. Product Safety Australia, toys containing magnets

Planning plush for Australia?

Send the design, quantity, age grade and sales channel. Takara replies within 3 business days with a quote that includes testing and documents.

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