Getting Thai Noodles Into Oz

[haveaniceday]

I am wondering if anyone has had any luck getting those fresh white noodles used in Kaang Keaw Wan (Thai Green Curry) that you buy in little plastic baskets from markets here into Australia legally. Will have it in check in and subject to declaration. Also interested in experiences with those flat white noodles used in 'Pad Se-owl' and those yummie fatting like salami sausages you can slice and fry with rice.

Just thinking someone may have had them given the yes or no from Australia Quarantine.

[craigt3365]

I'm going to move this to the Thai Food forum. I think you might get better responses there. Good luck!

//Moved//

[afarang]

Yes, you can. But who are you going to sell too?They will have to go through a quarantine certification process.Most Thai foodstuffs are already sold in Asian food shops.All around Oz.. If anything is not already imported , it is likely that there is insufficient demand for it.

[harrry]

Yes, you can. But who are you going to sell too?They will have to go through a quarantine certification process.Most Thai foodstuffs are already sold in Asian food shops.All around Oz.. If anything is not already imported , it is likely that there is insufficient demand for it.

Not just in Thai shops either...Coles Woolworths etc all stock a wide range of noodles.

[haveaniceday]

Not selling to anyone, I tested them and they freeze well, and much nicer than the dried out noodles.

Will let you know if they let them through, will try a small amount.

I will be 100% declaring all that stuff.

Thanks for the replies.

[Jockstar]

You can get pretty much everything here in Sydney. No need to import. Campbell Street in the city is known as Thai town. Just about everything you need can be bought there. There is also Paddys market and other asian supermarets all over Sydney.

[harrry]

Taking them through the airport has much stricter rules than im[orting inspected items for trade. Declare it on the form when you enter or it will be an automatic fine. Many things are consficated at the airport however a few things are allowed. You may also run into Security problems on boading as they may consider them gels.

Edited December 13, 2010 by harrry

[afarang]

Absolutely no food stuffs are allowed into Aust., as personal luggage .The fine is huge. You may be lucky and escape with only confiscation.Do not try it. The risk is too great. I never ,ever take any thing illegal into Oz. As someone else has said , most Asian foods are readily available to buy in Oz.,either through Asian food shops, which is where I shop ,when in Oz, or some limited range is carried in the supermarkets. Much better off finding a good Asian food shop.

[tim armstrong]

Some legally imported Thai foods ie. shrimp paste was recently found to be contaminated on arrival in Oz. So Customs are very weary of all Thai food. But as others say you can get most things in any good Asian supermarket. Personally, I'm not at all troubled that Oz Customs has the reputation of being the toughest in the world, particularly on food,because its the main reason agricultural industries there are relatively disease free. But yes, we do use way too many agrochemicals.

[afarang]

Some legally imported Thai foods ie. shrimp paste was recently found to be contaminated on arrival in Oz. So Customs are very weary of all Thai food. But as others say you can get most things in any good Asian supermarket. Personally, I'm not at all troubled that Oz Customs has the reputation of being the toughest in the world, particularly on food,because its the main reason agricultural industries there are relatively disease free. But yes, we do use way too many agrochemicals.

Totally agree. We are reasonably disease free, in terms of Agriculture.,Yes ,we do use too many chemicals, But we do not have so many infestations of many real nasties ,due to the competence of the quarantine service. I have absolutely no time for any idiot ,who wants to smuggle food into Oz..

[Eureka]

Absolutely no food stuffs are allowed into Aust., as personal luggage .The fine is huge. You may be lucky and escape with only confiscation.Do not try it. The risk is too great. I never ,ever take any thing illegal into Oz. As someone else has said , most Asian foods are readily available to buy in Oz.,either through Asian food shops, which is where I shop ,when in Oz, or some limited range is carried in the supermarkets. Much better off finding a good Asian food shop.

Foodstuffs ARE allowed into Australia on a daily basis. Just follow the guidelines and declare ALL food items you are carrying. Fines will only be inforced if you try to conceal food, especially restricted items.

I have previously carried Thai Curry paste into Australia and after inspection it was allowed through. If a special food brand is your concern, and it is not a restricted item (eg. Bird's Nest) look for commercial packaging with contents printed in english as this streamlines the process with any doubtful items destroyed or mailed back to their destination at the travellers expense.

This is an extra hassle which may not be necessary if the items required are already available in Australia.

Declare all foodstuffs as the risk of getting caught is too high. The scanners are quite accurate as they detected the raisins in a small cake on one of my trips.

By the way the fine is $235AUD and the quarrantine officers prefer to fine most offenders. DECLARE and they will rule yes or no without a fine.

Edited December 13, 2010 by Eureka

[tig28]

Absolutely no food stuffs are allowed into Aust., as personal luggage .The fine is huge. You may be lucky and escape with only confiscation.Do not try it. The risk is too great. I never ,ever take any thing illegal into Oz. As someone else has said , most Asian foods are readily available to buy in Oz.,either through Asian food shops, which is where I shop ,when in Oz, or some limited range is carried in the supermarkets. Much better off finding a good Asian food shop.

Foodstuffs ARE allowed into Australia on a daily basis. Just follow the guidelines and declare ALL food items you are carrying. Fines will only be inforced if you try to conceal food, especially restricted items.

I have previously carried Thai Curry paste into Australia and after inspection it was allowed through. If a special food brand is your concern, and it is not a restricted item (eg. Bird's Nest) look for commercial packaging with contents printed in english as this streamlines the process with any doubtful items destroyed or mailed back to their destination at the travellers expense.

This is an extra hassle which may not be necessary if the items required are already available in Australia.

Declare all foodstuffs as the risk of getting caught is too high. The scanners are quite accurate as they detected the raisins in a small cake on one of my trips.

By the way the fine is $235AUD and the quarrantine officers prefer to fine most offenders. DECLARE and they will rule yes or no without a fine.

+1

On a trip back to OZ a few months ago my wife wanted to bring half a dozen commercially prepared foodstuffs she found unavailable there --- I was actually quite surprised that all were permitted entry. Simply declare all foodstuffs.

[haveaniceday]

Thanks, yeah I have taken and declared many food items into oz over the years, it seems to be things with seeds in them, wood with bark on it and non commercially prepared and packaged foods that loose!.

It seems can declare anything and not be fined, (not sure about real nasties like drugs though !!! )but not declaring lands you in the poo.

That is the whole point of declaring it.

I was just wonder if anyone hand firt hand knowledge of a couple of things I questioned. Geez, we are talking noodles, I will take 20b worth, declare it and see what happens

cheers.