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Travelling to the Beijing Olympics or Paralympics?
Make Australia a winner when you return from the Olympics or Paralympics
The excitement of the Beijing Olympics and Paralympics is making China the place to visit this year. However, it is important not to get swept up in the moment when buying your presents and souvenirs.
AQIS understands that you want to remember your trip by bringing souvenirs home with you, but we ask that you understand our quarantine requirements before you depart Australia.
A good starting point when planning your trip to Beijing is the China and back Lonely Planet guide. It has helpful tips on what you can find and do throughout China, and hints on best and worst buys.
As a quick reference guide that you can take with you, have a look at the Declare your Chinese treasures fact sheet. It covers quarantine risk items you should avoid, and items that you will need to declare on your return.
What can’t I take into Australia? and What can’t be mailed to Australia? go into more detail on what you should declare and tips for sending international mail to Australia.
Items considered a quarantine risk
One important role of AQIS is to help minimise the risk of exotic pests and diseases entering Australia from other parts of the world. Some items from China that are considered a quarantine risk and must be declared to AQIS include:
- fresh, dried and preserved fruit and vegetables
- citrus peel teas or three-in-one coffee mixes
- traditional Chinese medicines
- bird’s nest, dried and fresh mushrooms
- fresh or preserved eggs and egg products
- mooncakes
- meat products including noodles with meat, dried meat, meat floss and dried seafood
- wooden souvenirs or handicrafts made from animal skins
- dairy products such as milk powder
- spices, seeds and nuts
- airline food and snacks
- used recreational equipment such as camping equipment
When you arrive back in Australia, make sure you declare and present for inspection all food (including herbs, spices, and ingredients for cooking), plant material, animal products, and any items used in rural areas or freshwater streams or lakes.
What happens to items that I declare?
Most declared items will be returned to you after inspection. However, depending on the quarantine risk of the items, you may be given the following options:
- treat the item to make it safe*
- re-export the item*, or
- have the item destroyed by AQIS.
*These options are subject to fees and special conditions may apply.
If you don't declare quarantine risk items, you could receive an on-the-spot fine of up to $AUD220. For more serious breaches of Australian quarantine law, you could be prosecuted and face a fine of up to $66 000 or 10 years imprisonment which may result in a criminal record.
On arrival in Australia your luggage may be X-rayed, inspected or checked by a detector dog team. If you're not sure about what you should declare, AQIS officers are available to help answer any questions.
So remember to familiarise yourself with what you can and can't bring into Australia and make your trip to the Beijing Olympics or Paralympics memorable for all the right reasons.
For more information on items to declare
If you need more information on items that need to be declared or that require an Import Permit, visit the ICON database.
Useful websites
TravelBug
Smartraveller
Australian Customs Service
Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts
