What does it mean for a supplier to be registered as a bonded supplier when importing to Australia, and who is responsible for the registration?

When importing to Australia, bonded warehouse registration is typically the responsibility of the **importing/receiving party**, not the exporting supplier. The importer—whether a distributor, retailer, or their logistics partner—should be the entity with the bonded warehouse licence and responsible for any associated paperwork.

**Key points from community experience:**

- The receiving importer needs to have a bonded warehouse; they should handle the necessary paperwork themselves - If you're exporting on standard incoterms (e.g. FOB), the responsibility sits with the importer on the Australian side - If a major retailer like Coles is requesting that goods be "bonded," this may indicate they lack bonded warehouse capacity themselves—but members noted this "doesn't sound right" and warrants clarification - Confirm with your importer exactly what incoterms you've agreed, as this determines who bears responsibility for customs and bonded-warehouse arrangements

**Caveat:** This guidance is based on standard export practice; if a customer is making unusual requests, verify directly with your Australian customs broker or importer rather than assuming standard responsibility allocation.