From 1 January 2025, the importation of engineered stone benchtops, panels, and slabs is prohibited under new regulation 5M of the Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulations 1956. The Australian Border Force (ABF) is actively targeting goods suspected of being engineered stone.

The prohibition covers benchtops, panels, and slabs that:

• contains at least 1% crystalline silica substance as a weight/weight concentration, and

• is created by combining natural stone materials with other chemical constituents (such as water, resins, or pigments), and

• becomes hardened.

This import ban complements the domestic prohibition on the manufacture, supply, processing, and installation of engineered stone benchtops, panels, and slabs in Australia.

Under the domestic ban, finished engineered stone products that do not require further processing or modification—such as jewellery, garden ornaments, sculptures, and kitchen sinks—are permitted. However, this exception does not apply to engineered stone benchtops, panels, or slabs, even if they are part of pre-fabricated or assembled structures. This is because these items may still require cutting, drilling, or other modifications during installation, adding to the legacy volume of engineered stone in Australia.

Engineered Stone Testing Requirements

For customs clearance, goods must be tested by a laboratory accredited by the National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA), using appropriate analytical methods such as petrographic analysis or X-ray diffraction. Please confirm directly with the laboratory that they are equipped to test for engineered stone.

Testing should first determine if the item qualifies as engineered stone, and if so, the silica content percentage must then be determined.

Testing certificates issued outside Australia must be from laboratories recognised by NATA under the Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) and accredited by the relevant local accreditation authority.

Further information can be found at https://www.abf.gov.au/prohibited-goods-subsite/Pages/engineered-stone.aspx

Story courtesy of IFCBAA

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