If you are moving to Australia from China around Chinese new year and planning to bring lots of presents for your families and friends, you should definitely consider Australian Quarantine and Bio-security regulations first before packing your suitcases. You must ensure that the items you’re bringing with when moving to Australia are NOT on the prohibited items list, otherwise you will be risking serious fines and could find yourself in a very unpleasant situation.
Australian Quarantine and Bio-security officers will be very alert at this particular time of the year, so carrying any items that are not allowed is simply a risk not worth taking. The following article was recently published on government website – Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
Be biosecurity prepared for the Year of the Snake
The Chinese New Year is a busy time for travel and gift-giving. Australia’s biosecurity officers at our airports and mail centres will be keeping an eye out for gifts that may also bring unwanted pests and diseases into the environment.
The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry is asking travellers and people expecting gifts from overseas, as well as those buying gifts online, to be aware of what can and can’t be brought into Australia.
Tim Chapman, First Assistant Secretary for Border Compliance, said everyone had a role to play in helping to keep Australia free from pests and diseases.
“We all want a country free from pests and diseases. Australia enjoys an enviable pest and disease-free status with significant economic, environmental and community benefits, and together we can keep it that way,” Mr Chapman said.
“It is important family and friends sending gifts from overseas are aware of what can and can’t be brought in.
“Goods such as fresh fruit, plants, meat and animal products and Chinese herbal medicine can carry pests and diseases that could decimate our industries and endanger the health of our community.
“It is also important for international travellers to know what goods are not allowed into Australia and make sure they declare all items on their Incoming Passenger Cards.
“Declaring items does not automatically mean they will be confiscated, however failing to declare risk items could result in a fine or possible prosecution.”
The items considered a biosecurity risk include:
- chicken, preserved pork sausages and dried beef
- fresh bamboo shoots and wooden artefacts
- citrus, persimmons
- fresh and dried fruits including lychees and longans
- lotus nuts
- Chinese herbal medicines; and
- products containing egg, especially duck eggs.
“Most items can also be easily purchased in Australia, risk-free,” Mr Chapman said.
Biosecurity protects Australia’s plant, animal and human health by reducing the risk of unwanted pests and diseases. This underpins the productivity of our primary industries.
For more information on what can and cannot be mailed or brought to Australia, visit agriculture.gov.au or call 1800 020 504 (free call in Australia).
