Reviewed by Clarrie King, licensed stonemason · Premier Stone, Drouin VIC · Updated June 2026
Engineered (quartz) stone is banned in Australia: its manufacture, supply, processing and installation has been illegal since 1 July 2024, and since 1 January 2025 the Australian Border Force can seize imported engineered stone. Natural stone, porcelain (sintered stone), marble, quartzite, laminate and timber remain fully legal. Porcelain and granite are the most popular replacements.
If you started planning a kitchen before 2024, the rules have changed under you. This guide explains exactly what the ban covers, why it happened, what is still legal, and which surfaces fabricators are fitting in engineered stone’s place, all sourced from the official Australian authorities.
Need a legal benchtop alternative in Melbourne’s south-east? Premier Stone supplies and fabricates porcelain, granite, marble and quartzite from our Drouin workshop. See our benchtop services → or call 1300 282 065.
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What exactly did the engineered stone ban change?
Australia’s ban removed quartz-resin benchtops from the market to protect tradespeople from silicosis. Since 1 July 2024 it has been illegal to manufacture, supply, process or install engineered stone benchtops, panels or slabs anywhere in Australia, under Safe Work Australia rules enforced locally by bodies like WorkSafe Victoria. Since 1 January 2025 the Australian Border Force can also seize imported engineered stone at the border.
The ban applies to products containing at least 1% crystalline silica that combine natural stone with resin or other chemical binders. It does not apply to natural stone, sintered stone or porcelain, because those surfaces contain no resin.
What’s still legal, and what’s banned?
| Legal in 2026 | Banned |
|---|---|
| Granite (natural stone) | Engineered / quartz-resin stone benchtops |
| Marble & quartzite (natural stone) | Engineered stone panels & slabs |
| Porcelain / sintered stone (no resin) | Importing engineered stone (ABF seizure) |
| Laminate & timber | . |
What are the best engineered stone alternatives?
Porcelain and granite have absorbed most of the demand engineered stone once held. Porcelain (sintered stone) gives the low-maintenance, non-porous feel people loved about quartz, with no sealing and excellent heat resistance. Granite is the toughest natural stone and rich in character. Quartzite offers a hard, marble-like look, and marble suits statement kitchens. See our best stone benchtops guide to choose between them.
Are porcelain and sintered stone safe to cut?
Porcelain and sintered stone sit outside the ban because they contain no resin. They are not silica-free, however. That means licensed fabricators must still control crystalline-silica dust when cutting and polishing them, using wet processing, on-tool dust extraction and respiratory protection, in force since 1 September 2024. A professional fabricator like Premier Stone follows these controls as standard.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is engineered stone still legal in Australia?
No. The manufacture, supply, processing and installation of engineered (quartz) stone benchtops, panels and slabs has been banned across Australia since 1 July 2024. Since 1 January 2025 the Australian Border Force can also seize imported engineered stone. Natural stone, sintered stone, porcelain, laminate and timber benchtops remain fully legal.
Why was engineered stone banned?
To protect workers from silicosis, an incurable lung disease caused by inhaling crystalline silica dust released when cutting and polishing the high-silica quartz-resin product. Safe Work Australia recommended the prohibition, adopted nationally from 1 July 2024.
What can I use instead of engineered stone?
The main legal alternatives are porcelain (sintered stone), granite, marble and quartzite, plus laminate and timber. Porcelain and granite are the most popular replacements. Porcelain is non-porous and sealing-free, and granite is a hard-wearing natural stone.
Is sintered stone or porcelain affected by the ban?
No. Sintered stone and porcelain are fired from natural minerals with no resin binder, so they are excluded from the ban. They are not silica-free, however, so fabricators must still use dust controls when cutting them.
What about engineered stone benchtops already installed in my home?
Existing installed engineered stone is not required to be removed and is safe to use. The silica risk is in cutting and polishing, not everyday use. The ban targets new manufacture, supply and fabrication, not existing surfaces.
More guides from Premier Stone:
- Kitchen Benchtop Materials Compared: A Melbourne Buyer’s Guide
- The Best Stone Benchtops for Australian Kitchens
- Porcelain Kitchen Benchtops: Cost, Colours & Pros
- Stone Benchtops Melbourne: Prices and Free Quote
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