Customs Tariff Amendment (2022 Harmonized System Changes) 2021

✦ Plain-English Summary

# Customs Tariff Amendment (2022 Harmonized System Changes) Bill 2021

## What it does
This bill updates Australia's import tariff system to match international changes that came into effect on 1 January 2022. It adjusts how certain products — mainly seafood, insects, and tobacco — are classified and taxed when they enter the country. The changes align Australian customs codes with a global system used by around 200 countries, so importers know exactly what duties apply.

## Why it matters
Keeping tariff codes in sync with global standards makes importing and exporting simpler and reduces confusion at the border. For consumers, it can affect prices of imported seafood and other products, though the main impact is administrative — making sure customs officials and businesses are all using the same rulebook.

## Key details
- **Commencement date:** The changes took effect on 1 January 2022
- **What changed:** Specific seafood classifications were updated (tunas, skipjack, Alaska Pollock), edible insects were added as an importable category, and some tobacco product codes were adjusted
- **Who it affects:** Importers and exporters of seafood, insect products, and tobacco; Australian customs officials processing these goods

Official Description

Introduced with the Customs Amendment (2022 Harmonized System Changes) Bill 2021 to implement changes resulting from the sixth review of the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding, the bill amends the Customs Tariff Act 1995 to: insert new subheading classifications for emerging technologies and product categories, such as 3D printers and edible insects, respectively; remove subheading classifications for products that are no longer traded in significant volume such as answering machines; insert new subheading classifications to improve monitoring of trade for goods of concern such as synthetic diamonds, chemicals that are controlled under the Montreal Protocol and the Chemical Weapons Convention, and environmental goods such as electronic waste; create specific classifications for flat panel displays, semiconductor-based transducers and electronic waste; and make consequential amendments.

Full bill PDF →APH page →

Audit History

Introduced

23 June 2021

Last updated on APH

10 Apr 2026

Outcome date

2 Sept 2021

Last checked by Crossbench

2 days ago

Full text indexed

2 days ago

🗳️

No formal division recorded

This bill passed by voice vote — parliament agreed without calling a formal count. A division is only recorded when a member explicitly requests one.

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