Owais Crawford
Australia has strict biosecurity laws that prohibit certain foreign foods, plant materials, and animal products from entering the country. This is to prevent the introduction of serious pests and diseases that could devastate the country's agriculture, tourism industries, and unique environment. As such, travellers entering Australia are required to declare certain items at the airport. Failure to do so may result in visa cancellation or refusal of re-entry into the country for three years.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Food | All food must be declared on Incoming Passenger Cards. Some foods are prohibited unless accompanied by a valid Import Permit, including beans, peas, cereal seeds, eggs, fresh fruit and vegetables, uncanned meat and all pork products, milk, popping corn, raw unroasted nuts, whole salmon and trout. |
| Medicines | Allowed for personal use with a valid prescription. |
| Duty-free goods | Combined total price of more than AU$900 must be declared. |
| Currency | Amounts of AU$10,000 or more must be declared. |
| Plants | All plants, parts of plants, seeds, bulbs, straw, nuts, and any animals or animal material must be declared. |
| Soil | Soil or articles with soil attached must be declared. |
| Motor vehicles | Importing motor vehicles requires prior contact with the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications. |
| Wooden items | All wooden items, including furniture, must be declared and may need to be treated. |
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What You'll Learn
Food items: tea, spices, rice, dairy, meat, and fresh produce
When travelling to Australia, you will be given an Incoming passenger card on your flight, which you must fill in carefully and honestly. This card will allow you to declare the goods and products that you are bringing into the country. It is important to declare all food items to avoid fines. Food items that you must declare include tea, spices, rice, dairy, meat, and fresh produce.
Meat products are authorised for import into Australia as long as they are commercially manufactured and retorted. They must be in sterile cans, jars, or retort pouches and must be shelf-stable, not requiring refrigeration or freezing. For example, canned meat products are allowed, while uncanned meat and all pork products are prohibited unless accompanied by a valid import permit.
Dairy products, such as cheese, butter, and infant formula, are permitted for personal use if they are commercially prepared and packaged and produced in an approved FMD-free country. The product label must list the country of origin. Honey is also permitted but must be declared and inspected for contamination.
Tea is allowed into Australia if it is in clean and new packaging, free of live insects and other contamination. Herbal tea bags and loose-leaf teas must be commercially prepared, packaged, and labelled.
Spices may be allowed into Australia if they meet specific import requirements. A phytosanitary certificate may be required for some herbs and dried, ground spices.
Fresh produce, such as fresh fruit and vegetables, is prohibited from being brought into Australia unless accompanied by a valid import permit.
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Medicines: carry prescription and keep in original packaging
Australia has strict biosecurity laws that prohibit certain foreign foods, plant materials, and animal products from entering the country. These laws are in place to prevent the introduction of serious pests and diseases that could devastate the country's agriculture, tourism industries, and unique environment. As such, it is important to be aware of what to declare at Australian airports, particularly regarding medicines.
When travelling to Australia, it is important to carry any prescription medication in its original packaging and to have a copy of the prescription written in English. This will ensure that the medication can be properly identified and verified by authorities. The prescription should clearly state the name of the medication and indicate that it has been prescribed to treat a medical condition. It is also important to ensure that the quantity of medication does not exceed a three-month supply.
Keeping medications in their original packaging makes it easier for authorities to identify and verify the contents. It also helps to ensure that the medication is not mistaken for illegal or prohibited substances. If the medication is not in its original packaging, it may be confiscated or subject to additional scrutiny, which could delay your travel plans.
Additionally, declaring medications upon arrival in Australia is crucial. Failure to do so may result in legal consequences. The Australian Border Force (ABF) advises travellers to declare their medications upon arrival and provide the necessary documentation, such as a prescription or a letter from a doctor. Being transparent and cooperative with the ABF will help facilitate a smooth entry into the country and avoid any potential issues or delays.
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Duty-free goods: declare items over AU$900
Australia has strict biosecurity laws that prohibit certain foreign foods, plant materials, and animal products from entering the country. This is to prevent the introduction of serious pests and diseases that could devastate the country's valuable agriculture, tourism industries, and unique environment.
When entering Australia, you must declare duty-free goods that are over AU$900 in value. This limit applies to goods that haven't been properly taxed in Australia, including items bought abroad, purchased duty-free in Australia, or items on which you claimed a tax refund. For example, if you are a resident of Australia and have purchased an expensive gadget abroad, you would need to declare it and pay all applicable duties and taxes.
The AU$900 limit applies to general goods such as gifts/souvenirs, electronic equipment, leather goods, jewellery, watches, perfume, and sporting goods. It does not include alcohol and cigarettes, which have separate allowances. It is important to note that the duty-free concession limits apply to goods imported in your carry-on or checked-in baggage, or purchased at an arrivals duty-free store when entering Australia.
If you fail to declare items over the value limit, your visa may be shortened or canceled, and you may be prevented from returning to Australia for three years. It is always better to declare items to show good faith and avoid any potential issues with Australian Customs.
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Prohibited items: plants, seeds, soil, and animal products
Australia's strict biosecurity laws prohibit certain foreign foods, plant materials, and animal products from entering the country. This is to prevent the introduction of serious pests and diseases, which could devastate Australia's agriculture, tourism industries, and unique environment.
Seeds must be free of live insects, soil, disease symptoms, non-permitted seeds, other plant material (e.g. leaf, stem material, fruit pulp, pod material), animal material, and any other contamination. An import permit may be required for seeds, and they will be exported or destroyed at the importer's expense if they do not meet import requirements. Most live plants cannot be imported to Australia unless the importer has a valid import permit. Wooden items are allowed if they are free from bark, insects, and signs of insect damage. Animal horns, teeth, or bones are permitted if they are clean and free from contamination with seeds, soil, and plant or animal debris. If contaminated, these items will be treated, exported, or destroyed at the importer's expense. Animal horns or bones may be subject to control under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and will be referred to the Department of Home Affairs on arrival.
Food items must be declared on Incoming Passenger Cards when arriving by plane and may be inspected by biosecurity officers. While some foods, such as coffee, biscuits, bread, cake, chocolate, maple syrup, and oil, are allowed, others like tea, spices, pickles, rice, nuts, and dairy products must be declared. Nuts must also meet weight and packaging requirements or undergo mandatory treatment offshore or on arrival.
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Random checks: sniffer dogs and body scans
Random checks are an important part of maintaining security and safety in Australian airports. Sniffer dogs and body scans are two methods that may be used for these random checks.
Sniffer Dogs
Sniffer dogs are trained to detect certain substances, such as drugs or explosives, by recognising specific odours. In recent years, there has been a focus on training sniffer dogs to detect COVID-19. These dogs are trained to recognise a specific odour in sweat samples and can potentially identify pre-symptomatic cases. The use of sniffer dogs in Australian airports is a collaborative effort between Adelaide University, the Australian Border Force, Biosecurity, emergency services, and international partners.
Body Scans
Australian airports have been introducing 3D body computed tomography (CT) scanners as an advanced security measure. These scanners use millimetre-wave technology, which does not emit ionising radiation like X-rays. Instead, they use non-ionising radiation, similar to the radiation emitted by mobile phones, to create a three-dimensional image of an individual's form. This technology can detect both metallic and non-metallic items and helps enhance security by identifying prohibited items that may not be detected by metal detectors.
It is important to note that exceptions are made for individuals who have medical or physical conditions that prevent them from undergoing body scanner checks. However, airports will refuse entry to the terminal if passengers do not comply with the security measures.
The implementation of these random checks, including sniffer dogs and body scans, is part of Australia's efforts to maintain biosecurity and protect its valuable agriculture, tourism, and unique environment from potential threats.
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Frequently asked questions
If you fail to declare anything that cannot be imported into Australia, officers at immigration clearance points may shorten or cancel your visa. The Australian Border Force (ABF) states that people found guilty of not following these rules may be prevented from returning to Australia for three years.
All food items must be declared on Incoming Passenger Cards when arriving by plane. While some foods are allowed, such as coffee, biscuits, bread, cake, chocolate, maple syrup, and oil, others must be declared, including tea, spices, pickles, rice, nuts, dairy products, beans, peas, cereal seeds, eggs, fresh fruit and vegetables, uncanned meat, pork products, milk, popping corn, raw nuts, whole salmon and trout, and seafood.
Any medicines for personal use must be declared. You must carry a letter or copy of the prescription (written in English) from your doctor to certify the medicine, and the quantity must not exceed three months' supply. Other items that must be declared include wooden articles, seeds, bulbs, straw, plants, biological materials, soil, sand, raw wool, pine cones, potpourri, and straw objects.
If you declare something, you will likely be asked to show the item to the customs officers. They may inspect it and, in some cases, may decide to confiscate it. It is always better to declare something to show good faith and avoid any potential penalties for not declaring prohibited items.
