What can't I take into Australia ?

Important quarantine information for international travellers

NATURE MADE AUSTRALIA UNIQUE ?

QUARANTINE KEEPS IT THAT WAY

Quarantine helps protect Australia . Food, plant material and animal products from overseas ? including many common souvenirs ? could introduce some of the world's most serious pests and diseases into Australia , devastating our valuable agriculture and tourism industries and unique environment.

DECLARE OR BEWARE!

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.

Some products may require treatment to make them safe.

Other items that pose pest and disease risks will be seized and destroyed by AQIS. You can dispose of high-risk items in quarantine bins in the airport terminal.

If you're not sure, ask a Quarantine officer.

YOUR INCOMING PASSENGER CARD

You will be given an Incoming Passenger Card before you land in Australia . This is a legal document. You must tick YES to declare if you are carrying any food, plant material or animal products . If you have items you don't wish to declare, you can dispose of them in quarantine bins in the airport terminal.

All luggage is X-rayed or screened. If you fail to declare or dispose of any quarantine items, or make a false declaration:

• you will be caught;
• you could be fined $220 on-the-spot; or
• you could be prosecuted and fined more than $60,000 and risk 10 years' jail.

You will not be penalised if goods are declared.

WHAT HAPPENS TO ITEMS I DECLARE?

In many cases items you declare will be returned to you after inspection. However, anything that presents a disease risk or is found to contain insects or larvae will be withheld. Depending on the quarantine risk, you can:

• pay for the item to be treated to make it safe (for example fumigation, irradiation) * ;
• store the item at the airport for collection when you leave Australia * ;
• re-export the item * ; or
• have the item destroyed by AQIS.

*These options are subject to fees and special conditions may apply.

Treatment may damage goods. AQIS makes every effort to minimise the risk of damage but does not accept liability for damage that may occur as a result of treatment.

DETECTOR DOGS

You may see a quarantine detector dog at the baggage carousel. They're screening luggage for food, plant material or animal products of quarantine concern. If you see a detector dog working close to you, please place your bags on the floor for inspection. A dog will sit next to your bag if it sniffs a target odour ? even odours left from food you have had in the bag previously. A quarantine officer may ask about the contents of your bag and check you are not carrying items that present a quarantine risk to Australia .

Declare or beware!

These items must be declared. They pose a high quarantine risk but may be allowed if accompanied by an Import Permit (issued by AQIS prior to arrival), or with treatment* in Australia to make the item safe. Alternatively items will be seized and destroyed by AQIS, or you can drop them in quarantine bins at the airport.

DAIRY AND EGG PRODUCTS

• dairy products (fresh and powdered) including milk, cheese and ‘non-dairy' creamers - from countries with foot and mouth disease
• airline food containing dairy including milk, yoghurt and sandwiches containing cheese
• all whole, dried and powdered eggs, and egg products that contain more than 10 per cent egg as an ingredient, such as mayonnaise
• homemade egg products including noodles and pasta that are not commercially manufactured

ANIMAL PRODUCTS

• all uncanned meat including fresh, dried, frozen, cooked, smoked, salted or preserved ? from all animal species
• sausages, salami and sliced meats
• airline food including sandwiches containing meat
• pet food ? including canned products and rawhide chews
• rawhide articles and handicrafts including drums

LIVE ANIMALS

• all mammals, birds, birds' eggs and nests, fish, reptiles, amphibians and insects

PLANT MATERIAL

• all potted/bare rooted plants, cuttings, roots, bulbs, corms, stems and other viable plant material
• flowers that can be grown from stems such as roses, carnations and chrysanthemums
• banana products including food (fresh and dried) and souvenirs made with banana leaf
• souvenirs made with or filled with straw, including Thai cushions

SEEDS AND NUTS

• cereal grains, popping corn, raw nuts, pine cones, birdseed, unidentified seeds, some commercially packaged seeds, and ornaments including seeds
• airline food/snacks

FRESH FRUIT OR VEGETABLES

• all fresh and frozen fruit and vegetables

Declare or beware!

These items must be declared and inspected on arrival for signs of insects, contamination or disease. Some may require treatment before being allowed in, but most will be permitted after they have been inspected by a quarantine officer.

FOOD

• commercially prepared, cooked and raw food and ingredients
• dried fruit and vegetables *
• canned meat products
• dairy products that contain less than 10 per cent dairy ? as stated on manufacturers ingredients list
• cheese ? must be commercially prepared and packaged and originate from countries free from foot and mouth disease
• fish and other seafood products *
• instant noodles and rice
• packaged meals
• herbs and spices
• herbal and traditional medicines, remedies, tonics and herbal teas*
• snack foods *
• biscuits, cakes and confectionery *
• black tea, coffee and other beverages
• infant formula (must be accompanying a child)

ANIMAL PRODUCTS

• feathers, bones, horns, tusks, wool and animal hair (must be clean and free of any tissue)
• skins, hides and furs
• stuffed animals and birds (taxidermy certificate required - some may be prohibited under endangered species laws)
• shells and coral (including jewellery and souvenirs)
• bee products including honey *, beeswax and honeycomb
• used animal equipment including veterinary equipment and medicines, shearing or meat trade tools, saddlery and tack and animal or bird cages

PLANT MATERIAL

• wooden articles and carvings including painted or lacquered items
• items that include bark (will require treatment or removal of the bark)
• artefacts, handicrafts and souvenirs made from plant material
• mats, bags and other items made from plant material, palm fronds or leaves
• straw products and packaging *
• bamboo, cane or rattan basket ware and furnishings
• potpourri * and coconut shells
• Christmas decorations, wreaths and ornaments
• dried flowers and arrangements
• fresh flowers and leis (excluding flowers that can be grown from stems such as roses, carnations and chrysanthemums)

OTHER GOODS

• biological specimens including tissue culture *
• craft and hobby lines made from animal or plant material
• used sporting and camping equipment including tents, footwear, hiking boots, golf equipment, bicycles and fishing equipment (need to be checked to ensure they are clean and free from soil contamination) 

* Special import conditions may apply.

MORE INFORMATION

www.aqis.gov.au/airports

1800 020 504 (free call within Australia )

Enquiring from overseas? Contact one of the following AQIS offices:

Fax queries: +61 2 6272 4494

If someone you know is breaking Australian quarantine, export or food inspection laws, AQIS want to hear from you. Report breaches to the AQIS Redline 1800 803 006.

For information about Australia 's duty free allowance and other restricted imports visit www.customs.gov.au

For information about wildlife trade laws visit www.deh.gov.au/travel

This brochure is available in other languages from AQIS. Information in this brochure is correct at time of printing. Quarantine conditions may change without notice.

c Australian Government