Pharmaceuticals import/export guide for Australia

If you’ve considered launching a pharma import/export business out of Australia, here’s where to start.

Updated Nov 19, 2020

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Australia’s pharmaceutical market is estimated to be worth $8.9 billion. You can grab a slice of the pie by starting your own trading company. From controlled substances to medical compounds, you can build a thriving pharmaceuticals business that facilitates trade around the world.

Types of import/export businesses

Import/export businesses fall into three main types. What’s best for you comes down to where your interests lie.

Export management company

An export management company (EMC) helps a company in Australia export its medicines and pharmaceuticals. It manages tasks such as hiring distributors, developing marketing materials and preparing shipping logistics.

Export trading company

An export trading company (ETC) looks into the needs of foreign buyers and finds domestic companies in Australia to meet those needs.

Import/export merchant (or free agent)

This involves buying the merchandise directly from the manufacturer – overseas or local – and then reselling it abroad. It involves a bigger risk, but it can lead to higher profits without the middleman that the other business types involve.

Check out our guide for more on starting your own import/export company

Types of pharmaceuticals

To meet the needs of your target customers, you need to choose the pharmaceuticals that you’ll offer. Choose something that you have the most experience with. For instance, do you have a science background with knowledge of medical compounds? Have you worked with controlled substances in a hospital setting? Do you know about a specific sector of the medical industry?

Existing experience with your target area is a plus, but having a passion for it widens your advantage. You’ll understand the jargon of your niche and you may already have contacts.

The pharmaceuticals market

Controlled medicines and substances.
Medicinals, botanicals, and dietary supplements.
Pharmaceutical preparations.
In vitro diagnostics.
Veterinary drugs.

Top import/export countries for pharmaceuticals

Export:

China: $817 million
New Zealand: $143 million
United States: $135 million
Japan: $98 million
Turkey: $61.2 million

Import:

Ireland: $1.03 billion
Germany: $785 million
United States: $605 million
Switzerland: $551 million
United Kingdom: $340 million

Source: The Observatory of Economic Complexity, 2016 data.

Do I need a licence or permit to import/export pharmaceutical goods?

A majority of pharmaceuticals will need either a licence, permit or both to be imported or exported in Australia. To find out what requires permission to import and export, visit the Office of Drug Control’s website (ODC). This index can also tell you what you’ll need in the way of permits and licences. Let’s look at a few examples.

Name	What application will I need?	Import permit needed?	Import licence needed?	Export licence and permit needed?
Morphine	Narcotic/psychotropic application	Yes	Yes	Yes
Testosterone	5G/5H	Yes	No	No

This info is sourced from the ODC’s website on 6 November 2018.

If you’re not selling them on, you can get most therapeutic goods sent to you from overseas for personal use. This is what’s referred to by the government as the “personal importation scheme”. These products don’t need to be approved in Australia for supply, which means you should pay close attention to safety and quality.
You’ll still need to see if the product is legally able to be imported into Australia, which is a different issue to that of being approved for supply. There are strict rules around how much you can order, so make sure you do your research first.

International billing and payments

Your new business will require you to make and receive international payments, which means you’ll make transactions between currencies and across borders.

You can safely and affordably manage your business payments – with lower fees and stronger exchange rates – by comparing the services of a money transfer specialist.

Compare international money transfer options for importing and exporting pharmaceuticals

I want to send

Min. Transfer Amount	Transfer Speed	Online Transfer Fee	Rate	Amount Received	Description	CTA	Details
GBP 0	1 - 2 days	AUD 0.00	0.768	USD 7,679	Special offer: $40 off when you transfer more than $250+ with code AUFIND40, conditions apply. Azimo sends money directly to a bank account or over 280,000 cash pick-up points. It also has fast transfers to 50+ countries.	Go to site	Compare	Show details	Details Minimum transfer amount GBP 0.00 Transfer methods Online, Bank Account to Bank Account Transfer options One off payments Customer service Chat, Email Available currencies AED, ALL, AMD, AOA, ARS, AUD, AWG, AZN, BAM, BBD, BDT, BGN, BHD, BIF, BMD, BND, BOB, BRL, BSD, BTN, BWP, BYR, BZD, CAD, CDF, CHF, CLP, CNY, COP, CRC, CVE, CZK, DJF, DKK, DOP, DZD, EGP, ERN, ETB, EUR, FJD, GBP, GEL, GHS, GIP, GMD, GNF, GTQ, GYD, HKD, HNL, HUF, IDR, ILS, INR, ISK, JMD, JOD, JPY, KES, KGS, KHR, KMF, KRW, KWD, KZT, LAK, LBP, LKR, MAD, MDL, MGA, MKD, MNT, MOP, MRO, MUR, MVR, MWK, MXN, MYR, MZN, NAD, NGN, NIO, NOK, NPR, NZD, OMR, PEN, PGK, PHP, PKR, PLN, PYG, QAR, RON, RSD, RUB, RWF, SAR, SBD, SCR, SEK, SGD, SLL, SRD, STD, SZL, THB, TJS, TMT, TND, TOP, TRY, TTD, TWD, TZS, UAH, UGX, USD, UYU, UZS, VND, VUV, WST, XAF, XCD, XOF, XPF, ZAR, ZMW Go to site Read the full review
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AUD 2,000	1 day	AUD 0.00	0.77	USD 7,702	Better exchange rates for Finder customers. WorldFirst sends 60+ currencies at competitive rates. If you find a better eligible quote, WorldFirst will beat it.	Go to site	Compare	Show details	Details Minimum transfer amount AUD 2,000.00 Transfer methods Online, Phone, Bank Account to Bank Account Transfer options Regular payments, One off payments, Market orders, Forward contracts Customer service Phone, Chat, Email Available currencies AED, AUD, BBD, BGN, BHD, BWP, CAD, CHF, CLP, CNY, COP, CZK, DKK, EGP, EUR, FJD, GBP, HKD, HRK, HUF, IDR, ILS, INR, JMD, JOD, JPY, KES, KRW, KWD, LKR, MAD, MUR, MXN, MYR, NOK, NPR, NZD, OMR, PEN, PHP, PKR, PLN, QAR, RON, RUB, SAR, SEK, SGD, THB, TND, TRY, TTD, TZS, UGX, USD, VND, XCD, ZAR Go to site Read the full review
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AUD 10	Within an hour	AUD 2.99	0.765	USD 7,646	Special offers like free transfers and better exchange rates available for new customers. Remitly has quick, affordable transfers around the world, with both express and economy options.	Go to site	Compare	Show details	Details Minimum transfer amount AUD 10.00 Transfer methods Online, Bank Account to Bank Account, Cash Transfer Transfer options N/A Customer service Phone, Chat, Email Available currencies ARS, AUD, BDT, BGN, BOB, BRL, CLP, CNY, COP, CRC, CZK, DOP, EGP, ETB, GHS, GTQ, GYD, HNL, HRK, HTG, HUF, IDR, INR, JMD, KES, KMF, KRW, LKR, MAD, MXN, MYR, NIO, NPR, PEN, PHP, PKR, PLN, PYG, RON, RWF, THB, TND, TRY, TZS, UGX, USD, UYU, VND, XAF, XOF, ZAR Go to site Read the full review
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AUD 1	Same day	AUD 3.99	0.764	USD 7,638	Use promo code 3FREE to send your first 3 transfers with no fee. Conditions apply. WorldRemit sends money to 110+ countries for bank-to-bank deposits, cash pick-ups or mobile top-ups.	Go to site	Compare	Show details	Details Minimum transfer amount AUD 1.00 Transfer methods Online, Bank Account to Bank Account, Cash Transfer Transfer options One off payments Customer service Phone, Email Available currencies AED, ALL, AMD, ANG, AOA, ARS, AUD, BAM, BBD, BDT, BGN, BHD, BIF, BOB, BRL, BWP, CAD, CDF, CHF, CLP, CNY, COP, CRC, CVE, CZK, DKK, DOP, EGP, ETB, EUR, FJD, GBP, GEL, GHS, GMD, GNF, GTQ, HKD, HNL, HRK, HTG, HUF, IDR, ILS, INR, ISK, JMD, JOD, KES, KGS, KHR, KMF, KRW, KWD, KYD, KZT, LAK, LBP, LKR, LRD, LSL, MAD, MDL, MGA, MRO, MUR, MVR, MWK, MXN, MYR, MZN, NAD, NGN, NIO, NOK, NPR, NZD, OMR, PAB, PEN, PGK, PHP, PKR, PLN, PYG, QAR, RON, RUB, RWF, SCR, SEK, SGD, SLL, SOS, SRD, THB, TJS, TND, TOP, TRY, TZS, UAH, UGX, USD, UYU, VND, WST, XAF, XCD, XOF, ZAR, ZMW, BYN Go to site Read the full review
AUD 1	1 - 2 days	AUD 45.00	0.773	USD 7,699	Wise uses the mid-market rate and transparent fees to help you send money in 50+ currencies.	Go to site	Compare	Show details	Details Minimum transfer amount AUD 1.00 Transfer methods Online, Bank Account to Bank Account Transfer options Regular payments, One off payments Customer service Phone, Chat, Email Available currencies AED, ARS, AUD, BDT, BGN, BRL, BWP, CAD, CHF, CLP, CNY, COP, CRC, CZK, DKK, EGP, EUR, GBP, GEL, GHS, HKD, HRK, HUF, IDR, ILS, INR, JPY, KES, KRW, LKR, MAD, MXN, MYR, NGN, NOK, NPR, NZD, PEN, PHP, PKR, PLN, RON, RUB, SEK, SGD, THB, TRY, TZS, UAH, UGX, USD, UYU, VND, XOF, ZAR, ZMW Go to site Read the full review

Compare up to 4 providers

Disclaimer: Exchange rates change often. Confirm the total cost with the provider before transferring money.

Bottom line

The pharmaceuticals import/export business is for people who love building relationships in other countries, and success requires an organised mind that can handle logistics. When dealing with medicines and similar goods, a willingness to thoroughly comply with relevant regulations is a must.

If you have these qualities, take the plunge into creating a thriving pharmaceuticals import/export business.

FAQ

Start with the free government services offered by the Office of Drug Control (ODC) and the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). These sources are full of specific pharmaceutical product data and can help you out with licensing and permit information.
For more general information on international trade matters, you can take free interactive online courses through the World Trade Organisation.

Thank you for your feedback!

Rosie Russell

Rosie Russell is a money transfers producer at Finder. She is on a mission to make personal finance easier to understand. Rosie has a Bachelor of Communication (Journalism) and Bachelor of Arts in International Studies from the University of Technology Sydney.

Import/export guide: China What’s the best way to send a lot of money overseas?

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Pharmaceuticals import/export guide for Australia