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Avoid quarantine problems when traveling this summer
30 November 2005
AQIS – the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service – will be busy this summer checking the luggage of close to one million Australians returning from overseas holidays.
AQIS will be on the lookout for any food, plant products or animal material that could carry pests or diseases into Australia.
The current outbreak of bird flu (H5N1) in many countries of the world underscores the importance of Australia’s strict inspection regime. Australia has always restricted the entry of feathers, poultry and bird products from other countries, due to the risk of introducing a range of exotic diseases including bird flu.
Not complying with Australian quarantine laws can be an expensive mistake. Australian Quarantine officers last year issued more than 4000 passengers with on-the-spot fines of up to $220, for failing to declare items like fruit and sandwiches brought off the plane, souvenirs made from plants or animals, and other goods of quarantine concern.
Travellers entering Australia from overseas must declare all food, plant material and animal products, as well as items that could be carrying soil or other organic material, such as shoes and sporting gear. Many of these items will be returned to the owner once Quarantine has inspected them. On occasion, however, items may need to be treated before return (at the passenger’s expense), or confiscated and destroyed.
Finding out about Australian quarantine is easy. Before travellers leave Australia they can:
- visit www.aqis.gov.au/travel to obtain free copies of the ‘What can't I take into Australia?’ brochure (available in a range of languages) or the new 'Out and back' AQIS/Lonely Planet destination guides; or
- call AQIS on 1800 020 504 (free call within Australia).
When travellers arrive back in Australia, they must:
- correctly fill out the incoming passenger card;
- declare for inspection all food, plant material and animal products – if unsure declare anyway; and
- place items that need to be declared in an easily accessible part of their luggage.
CONTACT AQIS Public Relations 02 6272 3097 or 02 6271 6402
Photos available of (1) items typically seized from travellers’ luggage and (2) Quarantine in action at Australian airports.