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AQIS cracks down on disease-carrying mail parcels
06 July 2001
AQIS is calling on everyone who might receive a parcel from overseas to tell their friends and relatives not to include fruit, vegetable, meat, egg, dairy products and other material of quarantine concern and to not use used food cartons as packaging.
Used produce cartons pose a serious threat to Australia's environment and agricultural industries, as they could introduce exotic insects and diseases.
According to AQIS National Border Manager Bob Murphy, over the past 12 months almost 3000 used produce cartons have been seized by AQIS officers at Australia's international mail exchanges.
"Australia's strict quarantine regulations require all mail items packaged in used produce cartons to be held so the cartons can be unpacked and destroyed. The contents of the cartons must then be repacked in appropriate packaging," Mr Murphy said.
"Having to unpack and repackage items sent in used produce cartons is costly and time-consuming and delays final delivery of the package. If AQIS inspectors find any sign of insects in the cartons or if the cartons are contamination, the contents must be fumigated at the expense of the addressee before they can be released from quarantine," he said.
Insects and diseases known to be spread in cardboard cartons include khapra beetle (acknowledged as one of the world's most destructive beetle larvae), citrus canker and plum pox virus.
"With the additional staff and resources announced in the May Budget, AQIS will be able to screen 100 per cent of all posted articles using X-ray machines or detector dog teams at international mail centres," Mr Murphy said.
"In fact, AQIS staffing at mail centres is increasing over the next few months from 26 to almost 200. In addition, 35 new detector dog teams will be trained for mail and air cargo depots. The number of X-ray machines deployed at mail centres and air cargo depots will also increase from the current nine to a total of 58."
To find out more about Australia's quarantine regulations contact the AQIS Office in your State or check the AQIS website.
Media contacts:
Carson Creagh AQIS 02 6272 5156
Angela Calabrese Cultural Perspectives 02 8585 1313