I receive a fair amount of International Packages thanks to the Internet that has led me to meet some wonderful people from round the globe. I understand why some of these people become rather upset when their package can take months to arrive at my doorstep. At same time I also understand why these packages take this long to arrive, as I too will do all I can to protect the Australian Flora & Fauna and AQIS has my full backing when they hold up these packages. Let me add further AQIS do go out of their way to make sure these packages arrive with as little damage as possible as I have received items that I know should never have been sent to me. Below is a rough summary of what is and is not allowed into Australia I hope this helps to alleviate the hostility I sometimes feel coming my way as Australia has no choice but to impose these strict laws for the survival of the lands uniqueness.
SAVE AUSTRALIA FROM A PACK OF TROUBLE!!
Australia's remoteness created an enviroment unlike any other on Earth. Quarratine helps protect it. Food, plant material and animal products from overseas could introduce some of the world's most serious pests and disease into Australia, devastating our valuable agriculture and tourism industries and unique enviroment. Quarratine officers, x-ray machines and dector dogs screen all of the 180 million of international mail items sent to Australia each year. 60,000 high risk items are intercepted each year so please read on and you will not end up with a Breach of quarratine laws which can lead to fines of up to $60,000 and 10 years imprisonment.
TIPS FOR SENDING INTERNATIONAL MAIL TO AUSTRALIA
The declaration label must be filled out clearly and correctly - include ALL contents and packaging on the declaration.
Do not pack items in egg cartons, wooden boxes, or cardboard boxes that have been used to hold fruit, vegetables and meat/smallgoods. This packaging is a quarantine risk and is prohibited.
Mail sent to Australia should not include prohibited food, plant material or animal products.
Before placing your internet or mail order, remember to check Australia's quarantine import conditions at www.aqis.gov.aujicon
Please think of other items to mail to Australia to celebrate these and other cultural and seasonal events. Tell your friends and relatives overseas of Australia's quarantine laws and ask them not to send prohibited food, plant material and animal products.
WHAT HAPPENS TO QUARANTINE ITEMS?
When items are withheld for quarantine reasons the person receiving the item is given a range of options depending on the quarantine risk:
treating the item to make it safe (for example
fumigation, irradiation);
holding the item until an import permit can be
presented;
re-exporting the item or returning it to the
sender; or destroying the item.
MEAT AND MEAT PRODUCTS
All uncanned meat - fresh, dried, frozen, cooked, smoked,
salted or preserved meat, including salami and sausages . Packaged meals (including noodles) containing meat
Mooncakes containing meat
Remedies and medicines containing animal material
Pet food including canned and dried food and supplements
DAIRY, EGGS AND EGG PRODUCTS
Cheese, milk, butter and other dairy products*
Packaged meals and other foods containing more than 10% dairy or egg (whole, dried and powdered, for example cake mix, salad dressing)
Mayonnaise or mooncakes containing egg
FRUIT AND VEGETABLES
All fresh fruit and vegetables
Dried fruit and vegetables containing PLANTS, SEEDS AND SOIL
Plant material including plants, cuttings, roots and bulbs . Seeds including commercially packaged seeds*
Soil including small souvenir or sentimental samples . Footwear and equipment contaminated with soil, manure or plant material
Gifts and toys filled with seeds, sand, soil or straw
DRIED PLANT MATERIAL
Tea containing items such as seeds or fruit skin
(for example citrus and apple peel)
Remedies and medicines containing herbs, seeds,
bark, fungi and dried plant material
Popping corn and raw nuts
HANDICRAFTS
Souvenirs, artefacts and goods made of unprocessed
animal products such as rawhide, feathers, teeth and bones . Dried flower arrangements and pot pourri . Handicrafts made from or containing seed, pine cones, bark, moss and straw.
This is not a complete list of prohibited or restricted items. Any items found to contain insects or larvae will be withheld and must be treated. or fruit skin
For further information please go to our Australian site and if you are still not certain then drop them an email - they won't bite your head off as like you they want to protect Australia's Fauna & Flora.
AQIS
www.aqis.gov.auinternational.mail@aqis.gov.au
The above was brought to you by AQIS and Red who will do anything to protect these *points* above and below to some of Australia's uniqueness and why it is of the most vital importance to make sure this country does not lose one more as already thousands have become extinct*
