Posting Food To Australia

[saintofsilence]

I would like to post a few packets of curry paste to Australia does anyone know if it would be allowed and if there is any thing I should know before sending.

[Farma]

Australia is very tight with its quarantine regulations. Is it really necessary to send curry paste as most Thai curry pastes can be purchased in Asian supermarkets.

More detailed information can be found on this link to the AQIS website.

http://www.daff.gov.au/aqis/mail/cant-mail

[saintofsilence]

Australia is very tight with its quarantine regulations. Is it really necessary to send curry paste as most Thai curry pastes can be purchased in Asian supermarkets.

More detailed information can be found on this link to the AQIS website.

http://www.daff.gov.au/aqis/mail/cant-mail

Thanks for the info but the reason i want to send this is that this paste is not in australia that I can find, and it is the best curry I have had so I would like to send some to my family.

Edited May 27, 2009 by saintofsilence

[Emeritus]

I believe chances are very high that the curry paste will get confiscated and immediately incinerated upon arrival in Australia.

[sassienie]

I am shocked to hear that Australia has become so poor that now they are receiving food parcels from Thailand.

Don’t tell me that all the roos have been eaten and have become extinct.

[garyh]

If the curry Paste is a commercial product and in commercial packaging and does not contain viable seeds etc it should go through okay. My wife has bought back to Australia various herbal powders and declared them at the airport and there was no issue.

[tw25rw]

If it's canned or factory sealed it might get through. If it's home made, forget it.

[LooseCannon]

Every time my wife returns from Thailand she always brings homemade curry paste, usually 2-3kgs, & has never had a problem. AQIS always take a look to check for seeds, these are their main concern.

She also brings fresh tamarind (acceptable as long as it is seedless) & homemade chilli powder.

Never received anything through the post but AQIS still inspect the packages & you would hope (wishful thinking) that they have the same standards as the inspectors at the airport. The inspectors at the airport always ask what the ingredients are etc. so it might be a good idea to include a brief description inside the parcel so they know exactly what it is.

The easiest way to find out is to try a small one first.

[tim armstrong]

Every time my wife returns from Thailand she always brings homemade curry paste, usually 2-3kgs, & has never had a problem. AQIS always take a look to check for seeds, these are their main concern.

She also brings fresh tamarind (acceptable as long as it is seedless) & homemade chilli powder.

Never received anything through the post but AQIS still inspect the packages & you would hope (wishful thinking) that they have the same standards as the inspectors at the airport. The inspectors at the airport always ask what the ingredients are etc. so it might be a good idea to include a brief description inside the parcel so they know exactly what it is.

The easiest way to find out is to try a small one first.

Agree with Loose Cannon. No seeds no problem, and yes Oz Customs are THE toughest in the world for agricultural products. Thats's why Oz has no foot and mouth,or hundreds of other nasty diseases.

A friend of mine once tried to bring in a fruit cake for Christmas. She was refused, and thinking that the Customs officers really wanted it for themselves, she ate the whole thing in front of them, and walked through. Needless to say, she had a very loose Christmas!

[MiG16]

I think theres a high chance it might not get through.

these days most curry paste can be found in Australia, especially in the big cities like Syd, Melb, Perth, Brissie. some small towns also sell many thai products these days, just not as extensive.

somebody i know used to be able to bring pickled fruit (with spices, indian style), but lately not anymore, as he was told that the pickled spices contains cloves, which they do not want being brought into Aus.

so in a thai curry paste, I imagine theres lots of items that could fall within the prohibited category of fresh vegetable (for instance lime leaf, garlic, chillies)

if you are going to try sending, also make sure of the packaging of the mail:

If you are sending international mail to Australia:

* do not send prohibited food, plant material or animal products

* make sure you fill out the declaration label clearly and correctly, itemising everything inside the package, including any packaging materials you've used

* do not pack items in egg cartons, wooden boxes, or cardboard boxes that have been used to hold fruit, vegetables or meat/smallgoods – this packaging is a quarantine risk and is prohibited

* do not pack with straw or dried plant material; use newspaper or foam to wrap fragile goods

* thoroughly clean all footwear, sporting, fishing and camping equipment to remove any soil, seeds or plant material.

source: Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service