Tariffs and regulations
Tariffs and duty rates are constantly revised and are subject to change without notice.
Austrade strongly recommends you reconfirm these prior to selling to Macau.
For further information please see the Macau Customs Service and the Financial Service Bureau websites.
Tariffs and non-tariff barriers
Macau is virtually a free port, with tariffs being imposed only on tobacco products, petrol, vehicles and spirits.
Non-tariff barriers
All livestock, plants, vegetable products, meat and food are subject to Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau's sanitary quarantine. Import of food requires both import license and sanitary quarantine; those are meat (fresh, chilled or preserved), sausage, fish (ornamental fish excepted), seafood, dairy products, eggs, ice cream and other edible ice, etc.
In order to prove that they are edible for human consumption, food that need not to apply for the import license but still have to undergo sanitary quarantine are those edible vegetables, fruits, mushroom spawn, sugar cane and caviar, etc.
Import licences are required for importation of pharmaceuticals, chemicals, weapons, transceivers and radar equipment, and equipment and materials for manufacture of optical discs.
Product certification
Most food products do not require an import licence. However, in order to ensure that they are fit for human consumption, all livestock, plants, vegetable products, meat and food are subject to a sanitary quarantine or phyto-sanitary quarantine inspection by the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau.
Spirit imports, other than wine, are subject to pre-approved certification and tariff procedures.
Labelling and marking
There is no specific legal requirement or regulations for prepacked foodstuffs labelling. In general, the use of labelling as required by the country of origin is acceptable. The Macau government readily accepts food labels which are designed for Hong Kong and China market.
Though special packing requirements for food products is not expected, there is an administrative requirement to register the food labelling and packaging design for milk powder, pharmaceuticals and all other products that have a treatment effect on skin, before they are imported into Macau. The registration process takes 3 to 4 months for approval. Any change in the packaging design requires the product to go through the registration process again.
Special certificates
It is mandatory for all imported seafood (ornamental fish excepted), meat and poultry (fresh, chilled or preserved), dairy products, eggs, ice cream and fresh produce (other than that from China) to be accompanied with import license and valid health certification issued by from respective authorities in the country of export (in the case of Australia, AQIS).
Live animals, cut meat, seafood, dairy products, eggs, ice cream and fresh produce imported from China is subject to special inspection and quarantine procedures.
Please note that generally, the responsibility of meeting the above legal and administrative requirements rests with local importers. Australian exporters should be mindful of the requirements.
For further information on import licensing and restrictions, it is advisable to check with local importers and the Macau Customs Service.