How PNG's rules are structured
The core list is Schedule 2 of the Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulation 1973. Each item is tagged with the nature of the restriction:
- Prohibited absolutely: can't be imported at all.
- Permission of a named person or body: can be imported only with prior written permission, for example from a Minister, the Commissioner of Police or the National Gaming Control Board.
- Conditions or requirements: can be imported if specific conditions are met, such as fumigation evidence, packaging rules or quality standards.
- Restricted drugs: require a drug import licence and permission for each importation.
Other laws sit alongside the regulation, including biosecurity, pesticide and censorship rules. The schedule has been amended many times, so check the current version with PNG Customs or your broker before you ship. For the bigger picture, see our complete guide to shipping to Lae.
Examples of goods prohibited absolutely
- Counterfeit bank notes and coins.
- Flick knives and similar spring-opening knives that lock open.
- Silencers for firearms.
- High-density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic shopping bags, including carry bags and tear-off produce bags.
- Gaming machines other than poker machines, such as roulette tables and similar games of chance.
- Goods made wholly or partly with prison labour.
- Goods bearing the word "Anzac" or anything likely to be confused with it.
- Opium prepared for smoking, and opium pipes.
- Thalidomide and preparations containing it.
- Matches containing white or yellow phosphorus.
- Parrots, parakeets and other birds of the Psittacidae family.
- Goods carrying false claims about their production or quality.
The plastic bag ban is the one Australian retailers and wholesalers most often trip over, so check your packaging as well as your products.
Examples of restricted goods and who approves them
| Goods | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Firearms, parts and ammunition | Permission of the Commissioner of Police |
| Tear gas and similar substances | Commissioner of Police; government use only |
| Fireworks | Permission of the Minister |
| Animals of all kinds, and animal semen; birds | Permission of the Minister |
| Living cultures of micro-organisms; vaccines | Permission of the Minister, with conditions |
| Radioactive substances and irradiating apparatus | Permission of the Minister or an authorised person |
| Aircraft, airframes and aircraft engines | Permission of the Controller of Civil Aviation |
| Poker machines and similar gaming instruments | Permission of the National Gaming Control Board |
| Pesticides | Permit under the Environmental Contaminants (Pesticides) Regulation 1988 |
| Methylated spirit or ethyl alcohol | Permission of the Comptroller |
| Second-hand bags, sacks and blankets | Permission, and evidence of fumigation or cleansing for bags and sacks |
| Rags and second-hand clothing | Evidence of fumigation or cleansing (personal-wear clothing from Australia or New Zealand is excepted) |
| Rice | Restricted by type, with health and quality conditions |
| Films and publications | Must comply with the Classification of Publications (Censorship) Act 1989 |
| Spirits and tobacco | Packaging and quantity conditions, with exceptions for samples and private use |
| Restricted drugs, including many opioids and barbiturates | Drug import licence plus permission for each importation |
Counterfeit and IP-infringing goods
The regulation also gives PNG Customs border powers over goods that infringe intellectual property rights, including counterfeit trademarks, pirated copyright goods and devices designed to defeat technological protections. Right holders can ask Customs to suspend clearance, and Customs can act on its own initiative. Goods found to infringe are generally destroyed or disposed of outside normal trade, at the importer's cost. There's a limited exception for small non-commercial quantities for personal use.
Other agencies to check
- NAQIA for food, plants, animals, animal products, timber and used machinery. See our NAQIA guide.
- Health authorities for medicines and pharmaceuticals.
- Environmental authorities for industrial chemicals, mining reagents and pesticides.
- Transport authorities for vehicle registration after import. See our guide to shipping vehicles to Lae.
What happens if you get it wrong
Importing prohibited or restricted goods without a permit, or making a false declaration, can lead to the goods, and potentially the vehicle or vessel carrying them, being seized, and to prosecution. If goods are seized, you have 30 calendar days to pay a security bond or start court proceedings; after that, Customs can auction them. See our customs clearance guide for the wider penalty framework.
Practical steps before you ship
- List every product in the consignment, including packaging and promotional items.
- Check each against the current prohibited and restricted list, and NAQIA requirements.
- Apply for any permissions or permits before shipment, and keep copies.
- Tell your customs broker about any restricted goods so the permit is lodged with the entry.
- If in doubt, ask. A question to PNG Customs or your broker costs nothing; a seizure costs everything.
Our shipping documents checklist shows where permits fit in the document set.
Frequently asked questions
Are plastic bags banned in PNG?
Yes. HDPE plastic shopping bags, including carry bags and tear-off produce bags, are prohibited absolutely under the Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulation.
Can I import a firearm into PNG?
Only with the permission of the Commissioner of Police. Firearm silencers are prohibited absolutely.
Can I ship second-hand clothing to PNG?
Second-hand clothing and rags generally need evidence of fumigation or cleansing, although clothing imported for personal wear from Australia or New Zealand is excepted.
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
Back to the complete guide to shipping to Lae
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.