Australian Biosecurity has warned travellers about a popular Thai herbal inhaler after officers detected products containing six plant species of concern at Cairns Airport. The alert highlights potential biosecurity risks and reminds passengers that even traditional herbal remedies may be subject to Australia’s strict import regulations.

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The warning was issued on 20 June 2026 through the Australian Biosecurity Facebook page. The agency posted an image of a well-known Thai herbal inhaler and stated that officers had found herbal inhalation products at Cairns Airport containing six plant species considered a concern under Australia’s biosecurity framework.

According to the agency, traditional herbal products can still pose biosecurity risks when brought into the country. Australian authorities routinely monitor incoming goods to prevent the introduction of pests, diseases and other biological threats that could affect agriculture, the environment and public health.

The post stressed that travellers can avoid substantial penalties by declaring items upon arrival and checking import requirements before travelling. Officials advised passengers to declare such products to biosecurity officers for assessment rather than risk breaching entry regulations.

The warning comes amid ongoing efforts by Australian authorities to strengthen border biosecurity controls. Products containing plant material, seeds, herbs and other organic substances may be subject to inspection, restrictions or seizure depending on their contents and compliance with import rules.

Amarin reported that Australian Biosecurity is expected to continue public awareness campaigns aimed at helping travellers understand import requirements and avoid penalties. Authorities have not announced any further action regarding the specific products shown in the warning but continue to advise passengers to check regulations before travel.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now Amarin 21 June 2026

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That government just can't shake their totalitarian tendencies. It's like their policymakers and enforcers were bullied as children and are out for payback. Aussies deserve better.

4 hours ago, flaming dragon said:

That government just can't shake their totalitarian tendencies. It's like their policymakers and enforcers were bullied as children and are out for payback. Aussies deserve better.

so you advocate allowing more imported best plants into the country...

Some of the most destructive imported pest plants include:

• Lantana (Lantana camara): Introduced as an ornamental plant in the 1840s, it now infests over 4 million hectares of eastern Australia, smothering forests and poisoning livestock. [1, 2, 3, 4]

• Blackberry (Rubus fruticosus): Spreads in thick, impenetrable thorny thickets that displace native flora and harbor invasive animals like rabbits and foxes. [1]

• Gamba Grass (Andropogon gayanus): Brought from Africa as pasture, this grass grows up to four meters high and fuels massive, intense wildfires that threaten native ecosystems. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

• Prickly Pear (Opuntia spp.): A notorious invader that once blanketed millions of acres before being biologically controlled by the Cactoblastis cactorum moth. [1, 2, 3, 4]

• Serrated Tussock (Nassella trichotoma): An unpalatable grass that dominates pastures and heavily degrades agricultural land. [1]

Mate...you're not the brightest light, on a Christmas tree.

19 minutes ago, Aussie999 said:

so you advocate allowing more imported best plants into the country...

Some of the most destructive imported pest plants include:

• Lantana (Lantana camara): Introduced as an ornamental plant in the 1840s, it now infests over 4 million hectares of eastern Australia, smothering forests and poisoning livestock. [1, 2, 3,

  ]

• Blackberry (Rubus fruticosus): Spreads in thick, impenetrable thorny thickets that displace native flora and harbor invasive animals like rabbits and foxes. [1]

• Gamba Grass (Andropogon gayanus): Brought from Africa as pasture, this grass grows up to four meters high and fuels massive, intense wildfires that threaten native ecosystems. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

• Prickly Pear (Opuntia spp.): A notorious invader that once blanketed millions of acres before being biologically controlled by the Cactoblastis cactorum moth. [1, 2, 3, 4]

• Serrated Tussock (Nassella trichotoma): An unpalatable grass that dominates pastures and heavily degrades agricultural land. [1]

Mate...you're not the brightest light, on a Christmas tree.

Some of the most destructive imported pest plants include

Many countries are facing significant challenges in managing invasive plant species that were introduced from abroad, in some cases decades or even centuries ago.

I don’t think the Aussies were worried about plant pests in the inhalers. They make no mention of the names of these “plants of concern”.

Inhalers grind up herbs. Zero chance of whole seeds or insect eggs.

When I was a kid, Benzedrex inhalers were sold in every drugstore. Active Ingredient: Benzedrine!

Maybe we’ll be seeing meth inhalers soon!

7 hours ago, flaming dragon said:

That government just can't shake their totalitarian tendencies. It's like their policymakers and enforcers were bullied as children and are out for payback. Aussies deserve better.

What a ridiculous comment. Biosecurity has always been very tight in Australia for one very good reason. It's an island nation that protects it's native flora and fauna from imported pests and disease.

I have to agree with dinsdale Oz Biosecurty is one of strictest in the world

Australian Customs is out of control....or rather...too much control!

Many airports engage senior or often retired people elderlies as customs officers who are often way over the top.

Sniffers are now dangerous to import?

just planted half a dozen inhalers, can't wait to see what grows.

1 hour ago, ChrisY1 said:

Australian Customs is out of control....or rather...too much control!

Many airports engage senior or often retired people elderlies as customs officers who are often way over the top.

Sniffers are now dangerous to import?

Just watch some of the countless Australian border force airport inspector videos on YouTube...

They just love to nose around in ever ones busisness...And make the experience of visiting Australia a living hell...

I never plan to go there...

1 hour ago, redwood1 said:

Just watch some of the countless Australian border force airport inspector videos on YouTube...

They just love to nose around in ever ones busisness...And make the experience of visiting Australia a living hell...

I never plan to go there...

One less "Bogan" to worry about

Do you folks from Oz get to watch the tv series about Border Patrol and catching smugglers coming into, or passing thru Oz at the airport with luggage containing stuff like this, drugs, etc.??

It’s a cool TV show to watch, and more entertaining that the US border patrol MX land border show.

2 hours ago, redwood1 said:

Just watch some of the countless Australian border force airport inspector videos on YouTube...

They just love to nose around in ever ones busisness...And make the experience of visiting Australia a living hell...

I never plan to go there...

Mannn, I like those Oz airport border police videos!

2 hours ago, redwood1 said:

Just watch some of the countless Australian border force airport inspector videos on YouTube...

They just love to nose around in ever ones busisness...And make the experience of visiting Australia a living hell...

I never plan to go there...

I travel to Australia twice a year. Never had a bag inspected because I declare any plant material and ask about anything I'm not sure about. The officers have always been polite and friendly.

I know someone who once said to me before traveling to Australia "none of their f***ing business what I have in my bags". That's the sort of person you see on those YouTube videos.

20 minutes ago, banyanman said:

I travel to Australia twice a year. Never had a bag inspected because I declare any plant material and ask about anything I'm not sure about. The officers have always been polite and friendly.

I know someone who once said to me before traveling to Australia "none of their f***ing business what I have in my bags". That's the sort of person you see on those YouTube videos.

Typical bogan with no understanding of what it is about !! and most customs, though out the world have the power to search Bags, in australia it is Customs Act 1901

On 6/20/2026 at 9:13 PM, Aussie999 said:

so you advocate allowing more imported best plants into the country...

Some of the most destructive imported pest plants include:

• Lantana (Lantana camara): Introduced as an ornamental plant in the 1840s, it now infests over 4 million hectares of eastern Australia, smothering forests and poisoning livestock. [1, 2, 3,

  ]

• Blackberry (Rubus fruticosus): Spreads in thick, impenetrable thorny thickets that displace native flora and harbor invasive animals like rabbits and foxes. [1]

• Gamba Grass (Andropogon gayanus): Brought from Africa as pasture, this grass grows up to four meters high and fuels massive, intense wildfires that threaten native ecosystems. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

• Prickly Pear (Opuntia spp.): A notorious invader that once blanketed millions of acres before being biologically controlled by the Cactoblastis cactorum moth. [1, 2, 3, 4]

• Serrated Tussock (Nassella trichotoma): An unpalatable grass that dominates pastures and heavily degrades agricultural land. [1]

Mate...you're not the brightest light, on a Christmas tree.

What does it have to do with nasal inhalers?

Copy paste and you're calling me names? Sound out the words and write it out yourself. Tell us the family names and why they spread so quickly. Are they rhizomatous, stoloniferous, monecious or dieocious ? Do they reproduce by layering as well? Come on expert, we all want to be educated.

On 6/21/2026 at 2:13 PM, Aussie999 said:

so you advocate allowing more imported best plants into the country...

Some of the most destructive imported pest plants include:

• Lantana (Lantana camara): Introduced as an ornamental plant in the 1840s, it now infests over 4 million hectares of eastern Australia, smothering forests and poisoning livestock. [1, 2, 3,

  ]

• Blackberry (Rubus fruticosus): Spreads in thick, impenetrable thorny thickets that displace native flora and harbor invasive animals like rabbits and foxes. [1]

• Gamba Grass (Andropogon gayanus): Brought from Africa as pasture, this grass grows up to four meters high and fuels massive, intense wildfires that threaten native ecosystems. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

• Prickly Pear (Opuntia spp.): A notorious invader that once blanketed millions of acres before being biologically controlled by the Cactoblastis cactorum moth. [1, 2, 3, 4]

• Serrated Tussock (Nassella trichotoma): An unpalatable grass that dominates pastures and heavily degrades agricultural land. [1]

Mate...you're not the brightest light, on a Christmas tree.

And then you have the non plant invaders such as cane toads. An environmental disaster along with rabbits, camels and deer.

A second case of H5N1 bird flu has been identified in Perth. This could be a big one.

7 hours ago, ChrisY1 said:

Australian Customs is out of control....or rather...too much control!

Many airports engage senior or often retired people elderlies as customs officers who are often way over the top.

Sniffers are now dangerous to import?

They just found 2.7 tonnes of cocaine in a bunker in Sydney.

Keep up the good work!

3 hours ago, NedR69 said:

Do you folks from Oz get to watch the tv series about Border Patrol and catching smugglers coming into, or passing thru Oz at the airport with luggage containing stuff like this, drugs, etc.??

It’s a cool TV show to watch, and more entertaining that the US border patrol MX land border show.

Mannn, I like those Oz airport border police videos!

Seen it being filmed in Sydney airport. And yes, it is on Aussie TV.

On 6/21/2026 at 6:13 AM, Aussie999 said:

so you advocate allowing more imported best plants into the country...

Some of the most destructive imported pest plants include:

• Lantana (Lantana camara): Introduced as an ornamental plant in the 1840s, it now infests over 4 million hectares of eastern Australia, smothering forests and poisoning livestock. [1, 2, 3,

  ]

• Blackberry (Rubus fruticosus): Spreads in thick, impenetrable thorny thickets that displace native flora and harbor invasive animals like rabbits and foxes. [1]

• Gamba Grass (Andropogon gayanus): Brought from Africa as pasture, this grass grows up to four meters high and fuels massive, intense wildfires that threaten native ecosystems. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

• Prickly Pear (Opuntia spp.): A notorious invader that once blanketed millions of acres before being biologically controlled by the Cactoblastis cactorum moth. [1, 2, 3, 4]

• Serrated Tussock (Nassella trichotoma): An unpalatable grass that dominates pastures and heavily degrades agricultural land. [1]

Mate...you're not the brightest light, on a Christmas tree.

Add to your list Hasbara misinformation!

On 6/21/2026 at 1:55 PM, unblocktheplanet said:

I don’t think the Aussies were worried about plant pests in the inhalers. They make no mention of the names of these “plants of concern”.

Inhalers grind up herbs. Zero chance of whole seeds or insect eggs.

When I was a kid, Benzedrex inhalers were sold in every drugstore. Active Ingredient: Benzedrine!

Maybe we’ll be seeing meth inhalers soon!

Read the article again...then go buy some yadom, or similar products ,and check what's in it, I have seen seeds.

5 hours ago, flaming dragon said:

What does it have to do with nasal inhalers?

Copy paste and you're calling me names? Sound out the words and write it out yourself. Tell us the family names and why they spread so quickly. Are they rhizomatous, stoloniferous, monecious or dieocious ? Do they reproduce by layering as well? Come on expert, we all want to be educated.

Do you even know what these inhalers are...eg yadom

As for copy/paste, yes, so what's your problem...now do your own research, I am not your mother...geez

5 hours ago, flaming dragon said:

What does it have to do with nasal inhalers?

Copy paste and you're calling me names? Sound out the words and write it out yourself. Tell us the family names and why they spread so quickly. Are they rhizomatous, stoloniferous, monecious or dieocious ? Do they reproduce by layering as well? Come on expert, we all want to be educated.

Read, and understand this...

https://aseannow.com/topic/1397171-australian-biosecurity-warns-over-thai-herbal-inhalers/

I have collected quite a lot of elm furniture over the years. Only antiques because: Dutch elm disease. Beautiful trees, not many left.

I use an inhaler occasionally. Never got a seed up me snout.

On 6/20/2026 at 7:34 PM, flaming dragon said:

That government just can't shake their totalitarian tendencies. It's like their policymakers and enforcers were bullied as children and are out for payback. Aussies deserve better.

So you flunked science then? Because there are valid reasons for concerns. If you can read, read about the Caine toads and what happened after they took over the ecosystem there. Read about the blight that wiped out bananas in South America. In the US the spotted lanternfly is destroying crops, they're all over the plants in my yard. Invasive species of all kinds pose a serious threat to every country. Pick up a book once in a while.

On 6/22/2026 at 8:41 AM, redwood1 said:

Just watch some of the countless Australian border force airport inspector videos on YouTube...

They just love to nose around in ever ones busisness...And make the experience of visiting Australia a living hell...

I never plan to go there...

You won't be missed...if you base a country on what you see on YouTube, then you have problems....I mean real problems, especially if only watching customs doing what they're supposed to do...