Australian Customs: What's Not Allowed In?

[attrayant]

I'm in Vietnam with a Vietnamese friend who presently goes to school in Australia. I noticed on this trip that he hasn't been buying many things to take back with him and when I asked about it, he said that virtually nothing would be allowed through customs. When I pressed him for details on what "virtually nothing" means, he said almost anything consumable would be prohibited. Apparently he tried to take some dried squid and a big bag of dried tea leaves with him on his first trip there and it was confiscated.

I find this a bit odd for a westernized country that surely sees millions of tourists going to southeast Asian destinations every year. Can all of these tourists really not bring anything back with them? No teas, candies, dried fruits?

When I returned home to the USA last year I was questioned about what I had brought back with me. I listed everything I had brought with me on the customs form: dried tea, beef jerky, preserved lemons, assorted candies, dehydrated mango slices, crystallized ginger, and more that I can't think of at the moment. The customs agent inspected all of it and everything was allowed in. He said that anything not in a factory-sealed package might be suspect, but as long as the package was sealed I was OK. He also said that preserved/dried/dehydrated foods are ok, but nothing fresh or alive is permitted. This all seems very reasonable to me, so it really puzzled me that Australian customs would be so tight about what gets in.

Anyone have experience with bringing foreign consumables into Australia?

[attrayant]

Ah... Typo in the thread title. It should read "what's NOT allowed in". Also the apostrophe in 'what's' seems to have gone missing and how did that S get capitalized? If a moderator could fix that (at least the 'not') that would be great.

[Farma]

They are very tight with what they allow. It's to prevent the introduction of pests and diseases. Everyone entering gets checked, sniffer dogs and/or Xrays. They'll even clean your boots if you've been visiting a farm or they find dirt on them.

If you aren't sure, declare it. They'll take a look and in a lot of cases allow the items through.

Here's a link to the quarantine website. http://daff.gov.au/aqis/import/food

[buenavad]

Search in youtube "australia border security" and probably you will have some idea about customs in Australia

[necronx99]

The most anal, power hungry neo nazis in any public service anywhere

Sometimes rightfully, mostly powertrip heros

[Naam]

The most anal, power hungry neo nazis in any public service anywhere

Sometimes rightfully, mostly powertrip heros

try New Zealand and be surprised!

[harrry]

Try googling australia rabbits , australia prickly pair, australia cactoblastis,.

The effect these introduced species had on the environment in Australia is extreme and costly. THere are many more so australia is very careful with its border control.

[attrayant]

Thanks. I discovered the Aussie customs web page and there's a complete list: http://www.customs.gov.au/site/page4369.asp

Anabolic or androgenic substances and Ketamine

Antibiotics

ANZAC

Asbestos

Australian flag and coats of arms

Cat and dog fur products

Ceramic ware - glazed

Cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises)

Chemical weapons

Chewing tobacco and oral snuff

Cigarette lighters

Cosmetics - toxic materials

Credit cards - counterfeit

Crowd control equipment

Cultural and heritage goods - general

Cultural and heritage goods from Papua New Guinea

Diamonds - from Cote d'Ivoire

Diamonds - Kimberley Process

Dog collars - protrusion

Dogs - dangerous breeds

Drugs and narcotics

Embargoed Countries (UN Sanctions)

Embryo clones - viable materials

Endangered animal and plant species - CITES

Erasers, novelty

Explosives, plastic

Firearms and ammunition

Fish and toothfish

Fly swatters/mosquito bats - electronic

Growth hormones and substances of human or animal origin

Hazardous waste

Hydroflurocarbons

Incandescent lamps

Kava

Knives and daggers

Laser pointers

Money boxes, novelty - toxic materials

Ozone depleting substances

Pencils and paintbrushes - toxic materials

Pesticides

Polychlorinated Biphenyls, Terphenyls and Polyphenyls

Pornography and other objectionable material

Radioactive substances

Suicide devices

Tablet presses

Therapeutic drugs and substances

Tobacco - unmanufactured leaf

Toys - toxic materials

Trade Practices Act goods

Weapons

Woolpacks

Some of these are real head-scratchers (novelty erasers?). But I don't see anything about processed and preserved foods, so I'm calling BS on his claim that nothing edible can be brought back unless somebody here can corroborate.

[Farma]

It's a quarantine issue. Read the AQIS link I posted above before you call BS.

[FritsSikkink]

Thanks. I discovered the Aussie customs web page and there's a complete list: http://www.customs.g...te/page4369.asp

Anabolic or androgenic substances and Ketamine

Antibiotics

ANZAC

Asbestos

Australian flag and coats of arms

Cat and dog fur products

Ceramic ware - glazed

Cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises)

Chemical weapons

Chewing tobacco and oral snuff

Cigarette lighters

Cosmetics - toxic materials

Credit cards - counterfeit

Crowd control equipment

Cultural and heritage goods - general

Cultural and heritage goods from Papua New Guinea

Diamonds - from Cote d'Ivoire

Diamonds - Kimberley Process

Dog collars - protrusion

Dogs - dangerous breeds

Drugs and narcotics

Embargoed Countries (UN Sanctions)

Embryo clones - viable materials

Endangered animal and plant species - CITES

Erasers, novelty

Explosives, plastic

Firearms and ammunition

Fish and toothfish

Fly swatters/mosquito bats - electronic

Growth hormones and substances of human or animal origin

Hazardous waste

Hydroflurocarbons

Incandescent lamps

Kava

Knives and daggers

Laser pointers

Money boxes, novelty - toxic materials

Ozone depleting substances

Pencils and paintbrushes - toxic materials

Pesticides

Polychlorinated Biphenyls, Terphenyls and Polyphenyls

Pornography and other objectionable material

Radioactive substances

Suicide devices

Tablet presses

Therapeutic drugs and substances

Tobacco - unmanufactured leaf

Toys - toxic materials

Trade Practices Act goods

Weapons

Woolpacks

Some of these are real head-scratchers (novelty erasers?). But I don't see anything about processed and preserved foods, so I'm calling BS on his claim that nothing edible can be brought back unless somebody here can corroborate.

The information about prohibited and restricted goods provided on this website is a guide only.

Just bring some food and pay 200 AUS fine

[harrry]

That is the customs web page. Have a look at the quarantine one too. There is also Financial control and you must declare over 10000 dollars total in any currency.

[WilliaminBKK]

A few years back I did something stupid. On a flight from Vancouver to Oz flight they had oranges and apples for passengers to help themselves.

I ate the orange on board and wrapped the peel in a serviette-plcaed it in the seat pocket and forgot about it. Prior to landing, I have NO idea why the heck I packed the peel in my carry on-I was trying to tidy up and had a memory leak I guess, upon arrival this dam_n mutt sniffed my bag and the customs woman asked me to step aside. I opened the bag and felt so stupid that I didn't leave the peel onboard, she looked at me like I was a garbage picker, hoarder etc. She then said I would be fined $100AUS for bringing a food item into OZ. I said no problem if it makes you feel better go ahead and charge me, she finally smiled and said don't do it again...........try taking chewing gum into Singapore they dam_n near want to arrest you.

[necronx99]

Some of these are real head-scratchers (novelty erasers?). But I don't see anything about processed and preserved foods, so I'm calling BS on his claim that nothing edible can be brought back unless somebody here can corroborate.

Usually, any processed and commercially packaged sealed food is ok.

Nothing fresh or containing viable seeds. Dried stuff can be hit or miss.

Just take it, declare it all and be prepared to have them bin it.

As long as you tick the boxes on the form and show them everything you wont get into trouble.

[paulchiangmai]

Try googling australia rabbits , australia prickly pair, australia cactoblastis,.

The effect these introduced species had on the environment in Australia is extreme and costly. THere are many more so australia is very careful with its border control.

Also try googling Australian sheep, Australian cattle, oh, hold on a minute, there's money to be made on them.

[harrry]

Try googling australia rabbits , australia prickly pair, australia cactoblastis,.

The effect these introduced species had on the environment in Australia is extreme and costly. THere are many more so australia is very careful with its border control.

Also try googling Australian sheep, Australian cattle, oh, hold on a minute, there's money to be made on them.

agree on the sheep.....should all eat roo

[phil2803]

We all should be eating camel, goat and deer in Australia as they are feral and in huge numbers.  However try buying and you pay more than for beef or chicken.

Edited July 19 by phil2803