Who NAQIA is
The National Agriculture Quarantine and Inspection Authority operates under the National Agriculture Quarantine and Inspection Authority Act 1997. Its job is to provide quarantine and inspection services that minimise the risk of exotic animal and plant pests and diseases entering PNG. At the border, NAQIA works alongside PNG Customs; your customs broker coordinates both. For the whole import process, see our complete guide to shipping to Lae.
What NAQIA regulates
- Food, including processed and packaged food.
- Plants, seeds, fruit, vegetables and plant products.
- Live animals, animal products, meat, dairy and animal feed.
- Timber and timber products, and solid wood packaging.
- Used machinery, vehicles and equipment that could carry soil, seeds or pests.
- Soil, organic fertilisers and biological material.
Some items are also controlled under customs law. Live animals and animal semen, for example, need the Minister's permission under the Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulation. See our list of prohibited and restricted imports.
Import permits
NAQIA requires import permits to be applied for and paid for online. You need a membership account first; once it's approved, you apply for a permit for each product. NAQIA's own guidance also refers to supplier labelling requirements, including QR codes on product labels, so check current requirements with your supplier before goods are produced.
The critical point is timing: get the permit before shipment. Food arriving without a permit will be held at the border, and a held container keeps attracting demurrage and storage charges. Permits often specify conditions, such as health certificates, treatments or packaging, that must be met at origin.
Food products also need to be labelled in English in line with PNG food safety law.
Wood packaging and ISPM 15
All solid wood packaging, including pallets, crates and dunnage, should be treated and marked to the international ISPM 15 standard. If it isn't, NAQIA can require approved treatment on arrival or evidence of treatment through an acceptable certificate, with charges billed to the importer. The fix at origin is simple: buy ISPM 15 stamped pallets and don't use untreated offcuts as bracing. Plywood and similar processed wood products are generally outside ISPM 15, but confirm with your packer.
Used machinery and vehicles
Used machinery and vehicles are a major biosecurity focus because soil and plant material hide in tracks, radiators, undercarriages and cabs. Expect NAQIA to require them to be clean, with offshore cleaning evidence, and to inspect them on arrival. Equipment that arrives dirty faces holds, re-cleaning and possibly re-export.
What clean means in practice:
- Pressure-washed inside and out, including tracks, buckets, radiators and wheel arches.
- Cabs vacuumed; floor mats, air filters and toolboxes cleaned.
- No soil, seeds, leaves or insects anywhere, including inside panels.
- Cleaning done after the last use, and the item kept clean until loading.
See our guide to shipping vehicles and heavy machinery to Lae.
The inspection process
Your broker notifies NAQIA of regulated cargo, and NAQIA decides whether to release it on documents or to inspect it. For inspected cargo, the container is made available for examination, and NAQIA may release it, order treatment, or require re-export or destruction for serious non-compliance. Inspection and treatment fees are separate from freight and customs charges, and NAQIA periodically updates its fee schedule.
Household and personal effects
Personal effects are inspected by both Customs and quarantine. Wood items, garden tools, outdoor furniture, shoes and camping gear all need to be thoroughly cleaned. Food is best left out entirely, because it triggers permit requirements and inspection delays.
Pre-shipment biosecurity checklist
- Check whether any product in the consignment is NAQIA-regulated.
- Apply for and receive the import permit before goods are shipped.
- Send the permit conditions to your supplier and confirm they can meet them.
- Use ISPM 15 marked wood packaging only.
- Clean used machinery and vehicles thoroughly and keep evidence.
- Make sure English labelling is compliant for food.
- Give your broker copies of permits and certificates with the customs documents. See our documents checklist.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a NAQIA permit to import food into PNG?
In most cases, yes. Permits are applied for and paid online through a NAQIA membership account, and should be obtained before the goods are shipped.
What happens if my pallets aren't ISPM 15 compliant?
NAQIA can require approved treatment on arrival, or evidence of treatment, with the costs charged to the importer, plus delays and storage.
Does used machinery need to be cleaned before shipping to PNG?
Yes. Used machinery and vehicles must be free of soil and plant material, and offshore cleaning evidence is expected. Dirty equipment faces holds and re-cleaning.
Wade Miller
Senior Air Freight Writer, Sydney
Wade has spent more than 20 years in freight, from cargo terminal ramps to forwarding operations and customs documentation, working with importers and exporters across Australia and the Asia-Pacific. He writes practical guides on rates, paperwork and the rules that affect shipments, and reviews them against primary sources such as customs authority publications and carrier notices.
Related guides
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This guide is general information based on publicly available sources at the date shown. Rules, rates and schedules change, so confirm details with PNG Customs, NAQIA, your carrier or a licensed customs broker before you ship. Spotted something out of date? Report a correction.