Quarantine

Quarantine Matters

What can't I take into Australia?

You must declare for inspection all food, plant material and animal products on arrival in Australia to ensure they are free of pests and diseases.

Items prohibited due to pest and disease risks will be seized and destroyed by Australian Quarantine and Inspection Services.

THE FOLLOWING ITEMS MUST BE DECLARED AND INSPECTED;

Food

* Cooked and raw food and ingredients

* Dried fruit and vegetables

* Noodles and rice

* Packaged meals including airline food

* Herbs and spices

* Herbal and traditional medicines, remedies, tonics and herbal teas

* Snack foods

* Biscuits, cakes and confectionery tea, coffee and other milk-based beverages

Animal Products

* Feathers, bones, horns and tusks (must be clean and free of tissue)

* Skins, hides, and furs (rawhide including drums, shields and dog chews are prohibited)

* Wool and animal hair (includes fleece, yarn and craft items)

* Stuffed animals and birds (taxidermy cert. required)

* Shells and coral (including jewelery, curios and souvenirs)

* Bee products including pollen, beeswax and honeycomb

* Used animal equipment, including veterinary equipment and medicines, shearing or meat trade tools, saddlery and tack and animal or bird cages

* Pet food is prohibited

Plant material

* Wooden articles and carvings including painted or lacquered items (bark is prohibited and will be removed or require treatment)

* Artefacts, handicrafts and curios made from plant material

* Mats, bags and other items made from plant material, palm fronds or leaves (goods made from banana plants are prohibited)

* Straw products and packaging

* Bamboo, cane or rattan basket ware and furnishings

* Pot pourri and coconut shells

* goods containing cereal grain, corn husks or filled with seeds

* Christmas decorations, wreaths and ornaments (pine cones are prohibited)

* Dried flowers and arrangements

* Fresh flowers and leis (flowers that can be grown from stems such as roses, carnations and chrysanthemums are prohibited)

Other goods

* Craft and hobby lines made from animal or plant material

* Sporting and camping equipment including tents, footwear, hiking boots, golf equipment, bicycles and fishing equipment

* Footwear, clothing and any items used in rural areas or carrying contamination from soil, faeces or plant material.

THE FOLLOWING GOODS ARE PROHIBITED AND WILL BE SEIZED

Eggs and egg products

* All whole, dried and powdered egg and egg products that contain more than 10% egg as an ingredient, such as mayonnaise

Dairy Products

* All dairy products (unless from a country listed as foot and mouth free). Whole and dried products that contain more than 10% dairy product as an ingredient. Infant formula accompanying a child and New Zealand dairy products are allowed.

Uncanned Meat Products

* All animal species - fresh, dried, frozen, cooked, smoked, salted or preserved meat, including salami and sausages.

Live Animals

* All mammals, birds, birds eggs and nests, fish, reptiles, amphibians and insects

Live Plants

* All potted/bare rooted plants, cuttings, roots, bulbs, corms, rhizomes, stems and other viable plant material

Seeds and Nuts

* Cereal grains, popping corn, raw nuts, chestnuts, pine cones, birdseed, unidentified seeds, and some commercially packaged seeds and seed ornaments.

Fresh Fruit or Vegetables

* All fresh and frozen fruit and vegetables

Tick yes on your quarantine incoming card if you have any of the above. If you fail to make a declaration:

* You will get caught

* You could be fined over $200 on the spot

* You could be prosecuted and fined up to $60,000 and risk 10 years imprisonment.

NB: Most of the time if you declare what you have, the customs officers at quarantine will just ask you to show or describe it and let you go on. I have never had anything confiscated but I make sure I declare.

click here to go from quarantine to International travel