Fact Sheet
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The Certain Inputs to Manufacture (CIM) Scheme assists manufacturers by reducing input costs to particular manufacturing processes. CIM provides duty-free entry of eligible goods to help improve the competitiveness of Australian industries.
The scheme provides duty-free imports of certain inputs that have a substantial and demonstrable performance advantage in producing a specific end product over substitutable goods produced in Australia.
The goods covered by the scheme are:
- raw materials and intermediate goods classified under heading 5903 or within Chapter 28, 29, 32, 34, 35, 37, 38, 39 or 48 of Schedule 3 of the Customs Tariff, broadly chemicals, plastics and paper goods
- metal materials and goods, classified within Chapters 72 to 82 of Schedule 3 of the Customs Tariff, used in the packaging of food.
The eligibility criteria used to assess an application under the CIM Scheme are:
- Prospective in nature. Applications must be lodged before the materials or goods, which are the subject of the application, are imported
- Enhances competitiveness. The goods that are the subject of the application, must be intended for use in the production of particular end products where that good would generate a
- quantifiable and significant benefit to Australian competitiveness
- Eligibility of goods. Broadly eligibility is restricted to chemical, plastic and paper raw materials and intermediate goods and certain food packaging that has a substantial and demonstrable performance advantage over those produced in Australia.
Applications can be made by, or on behalf of, an end user of the particular material or goods.
AusIndustry is the point of contact for all aspects of the CIM Scheme. Policy and Administrative Guidelines, which include details of how to apply, are available from the AusIndustry website (www.ausindustry.gov.au ).
Customers should lodge their application prior to importation of the goods. This allows an opportunity to submit a new application or to provide further information before the goods are imported.
For further information on the application and assessment process, see the application process fact sheet.
Once your application is approved, a determination will be issued to allow duty-free entry of the specified goods. The earliest date of effect of a determination is the date on which AusIndustry receives an application.
Usually a determination will remain in force for up to two years from when the application was lodged.
Note: There may be links contained within this document which will transfer you from the AusIndustry website. AusIndustry does not have responsibility for these external websites nor does linking constitute any form of endorsement.
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If you have any problems accessing an attached file, please contact the AusIndustry Hotline on 13 28 46 or hotline@ausindustry.gov.au.