Customs Clearance Requirements

Overview of Customs Requirements

To ensure there are no delays in your products reaching our DCs and stores, it is important that shipments can be custom cleared prior to their arrival in Australia. In order for this to happen, certain documents are required on, or prior to the departure date of the vessel. Not only is it important for these documents to be produced and sent/uploaded on time, it is imperative that they are clear, legible and in English.

For further details please read the below:

• Important requirements for customs clearance

• Requirements for importing products containing plant and animal materials: Overview

Product Specifications

Product specifications are necessary for products imported by Big W to be correctly classified. They are required for both Vendor branded and Own branded products. 

Vendor Branded Product Specifications

• How to use - Vendor Brand Product Specification for Customs - Article ###### - BRAND name_Product Description

• TEMPLATE (Mandatory)- Vendor Brand Product Specification for Customs - Article ###### - BRAND name_Product Description

Own Brand Product Specification Form

• PS Form for Big W GM - with BOM and Instruction Manual - 20191014

Illegal Logging

Products imported by Big W MUST NOT contain any timber, paper or pulp at risk of having been illegally logged. To ensure that this is the case, we ask all vendors of paper, pulp and timber products to complete our illegal logging questionnaire. For products that are regulated paper, pulp or timber products,  customs clearance will not occur until the product has been assessed by the Big W QA team as being at low risk of containing illegally logged timber, regardless if the product is Vendor or Own Brand.

• Illegal Logging Overview and Training Module (START HERE)

• Supplier Mailout - Illegal logging requirements. 

  • Note the current links for E-Invoicing requirements for FSC are given below:

    • Cargo Services: https://ebiz.cargofe.com/eBooking/doc/CSFE%20-%20FSC%20Code%20Guideline.pdf     

    • Expeditors: http://www2.cargofe.com/temp/GAM/EXP_FSC_Code_Guideline.pdf 

    • Kuehne+Nagel: http://www2.cargofe.com/temp/GAM/KN_FSC_Code_Guideline.pdf 

• Policy - Paper, Pulp and Timber

• GUI.038 Supplier Guidance - Paper, Pulp and Timber Products V5

• Master Template_Illegal Logging _ Questionnaire_2025.xlsx

CITES

Products imported by Big W MUST NOT contain any plant or animal material from species that are protected under CITES. For products that contain any feathers, leather, or plant material, a CITES declaration must be completed and submitted to Big W QA prior to shipment. This is required for both Vendor branded and Own Brand products that Big W imports.

• CITES Declaration Template - Feathers and Plant Material

• CITES Declaration Template - Leather

Cosmetics/Cleaning Chemicals/Chemicals in Products such as Toys

Products imported by Big W must comply with the requirements of the AICIS scheme (formerly NICNAS), as well as those of the Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulations. To demonstrate compliance, a signed Chemical Declaration Form must be submitted to prior to shipment. This is required for both Vendor branded and Own Brand products that Big W imports (Own Brand products will be subjected to additional QA checks concerning chemical compliance).

• Chemical Declaration Template 

• Chemical Declaration Template Including Fragrance Allergens