Velvetwater Posted November 19, 2017 #1 Share Posted November 19, 2017 Hi, we are sailing on the Aria from Singapore to Brisbane next summer that goes through Indonesia. It is highly likely I will be getting off the ship with some food items I have bought in my travels that will all be factory packaged and sealed (Ramen packets that may contain dried fish powder,snacks, nut based products,chocolate,bottles of sauce,savory snacks etc). I do like food items to take home when I travel. I have heard that food products must be declared when at airports through a form which I am guessing will also happen at port. My question is how likely are they to be taken off me? Or is it a inspect and off you go type thing? I will certainly be declaring all items just in case. Thanks :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sanger727 Posted November 19, 2017 #2 Share Posted November 19, 2017 I’ve traveled through many countries with packaged food items like the ones you are describing (including Australia). The only packaged item I had a problem with contained nuts. Everything else got through ok. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GUT2407 Posted November 19, 2017 #3 Share Posted November 19, 2017 If it’s factory packaged and still sealed usually no worries. It’s when it’s not packaged and not commercially produced you get problems. BUT ALWAYS Declare it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rkmw Posted November 19, 2017 #4 Share Posted November 19, 2017 yes always declare and the worst thing that will happen they'll take them off you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kamloops50 Posted November 19, 2017 #5 Share Posted November 19, 2017 All countries require you to declare food and goods. In Canada they don't allow any raw meat and plant matter. Not all cooked and packaged products are allowed into Canada. Those cute puppies have pretty sharp noses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beanb41 Posted November 19, 2017 #6 Share Posted November 19, 2017 Commercially prepared nuts are generally ok as well. I often bring roasted cashews to Australia and have never had a problem. Havent tried "raw" nuts, that maybe different. Aussie border protection have a policy of "If it goes in the mouth it is food". If it has medicinial properties however spurious it is a drug. Declare everything. If in doubt declare it. If you want to limit any hold up have all declarable items handy for inspection ie hand held luggage. If Border protection have to open your large bags and they find something you had forgotten be prepared to have everything opened and turned over. If this is the case you wont get any sympathy from any of us who live down under either side of the ditch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aus Traveller Posted November 19, 2017 #7 Share Posted November 19, 2017 Returning from a trip to Europe I had a lot of food products (for various reasons). We also had a bit more than our allowance of alcohol. I prepared a list with each item shown, the size of it and (importantly) where I got it. I had everything in my hand luggage to show if required. The quarantine officer simply read down the list and OK'd everything. Another time I had chocolate covered macadamia nuts - no problem whatsoever. The products that would probably be refused entry would be any meat products (such as salami) and possibly honey. With Australian customs/quarantine officers, if you do not declare the items and they are found, you are will either be fined or at least threatened with a fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sanger727 Posted November 19, 2017 #8 Share Posted November 19, 2017 My ‘nut’ issue didn’t actually occur at customs. We got a bag of some type of nut; cashews maybe, on the plane. And the flight crew repeated several times not to take them off the plane if you saved them because they wouldn’t be allowed through customs. This was landing in Melbourne, Australia. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aus Traveller Posted November 19, 2017 #9 Share Posted November 19, 2017 Many times I have been told that wooden products cannot be taken into Australia. That is totally incorrect. Wooden items have to be declared. They will be checked over (a couple of minutes) and if no borer holes are found, they are OK. If borers are found to be in the wood you can pay to have the item fumigated or choose to have to destroyed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PerfectlyPerth Posted November 19, 2017 #10 Share Posted November 19, 2017 It really isn't complex. Follow the clear instructions on the Border Govt website. https://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Ente/Brin/Can-I-bring-it-back And basically - declare - full stop. Failing to declare will result in a fine or warning depending on the circumstances. That is seperate to whether the product itself will be permitted in or not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare MicCanberra Posted November 19, 2017 #11 Share Posted November 19, 2017 It would really depend on the actual food items and whether they represent a bio-risk to Australia's agriculture, etc. Declare them but don't be disappointed if some items are taken. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin B Posted November 19, 2017 #12 Share Posted November 19, 2017 Perfectly Perth has nailed it. Just read the clear and easily understood guidelines on the website and comply with them and all will be well. This country has very strict quarantine laws for very good reasons and you don't want to get on the wrong side of the people who are responsible for enforcing those laws. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bodogbodog Posted November 19, 2017 #13 Share Posted November 19, 2017 Always declare it - let them decide Being commercially produced and sealed in packaging is no guarantee The one that surprised us once was commercial dry dog food which we declared was seized as it banned as an import Mind you one only has to watch the Border Security TV programme to see what some expect to bring in (usually without declaring it) - and in some cases actually get away with it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare MicCanberra Posted November 19, 2017 #14 Share Posted November 19, 2017 Always declare it - let them decideBeing commercially produced and sealed in packaging is no guarantee The one that surprised us once was commercial dry dog food which we declared was seized as it banned as an import Mind you one only has to watch the Border Security TV programme to see what some expect to bring in (usually without declaring it) - and in some cases actually get away with it Some of the people on those shows just amaze me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Velvetwater Posted November 19, 2017 Author #15 Share Posted November 19, 2017 To the people that suggest reading the website. I have done that which is why I posted.I will be declaring for sure. I was simply asking how likely it was to be taken off me as I don't want to risk wasting too much money. Although I am now wondering if a port is stricter than an airport...who knows? Oddly I was watching some Aussie and Canadian customs programs the other day. There was a lady who had bought bags/boxes of homemade meat curries from Asia into Sydney I think it was. I think she got some hefty fines as you can imagine! :) Here in the EU declaring food items isn't super common actually...its only if they are on the obvious products list. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare MicCanberra Posted November 19, 2017 #16 Share Posted November 19, 2017 My wife had been given a bag (factory sealed) of rice and some jams as gifts from the US when she travelled with work. She had declared these and they took the rice but not the jams, she was surprised thinking it may have been the other way around. They have their lists but there is also an interpretation of the rules to take into an account. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kamloops50 Posted November 19, 2017 #17 Share Posted November 19, 2017 My wife had been given a bag (factory sealed) of rice and some jams as gifts from the US when she travelled with work. She had declared these and they took the rice but not the jams, she was surprised thinking it may have been the other way around. They have their lists but there is also an interpretation of the rules to take into an account. Rice isn’t considered a processed food. Also Oz produces rice. Jam is processed food. Sent from my iPad using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beanb41 Posted November 19, 2017 #18 Share Posted November 19, 2017 Rice isn’t considered a processed food. Also Oz produces rice. Jam is processed food. Sent from my iPad using Forums My initial thoughts exactly. Jam is not a threat but raw rice is . Aussie is particularly sensitive to its protection of its primary produce. Importation of apples and bananas come to mind. During the wipeout of the Australian banana crop a few years back the authorities still refused to import bananas and the public just had to lump it or pay the huge prices for the limited local stock that was available. Its not that long ago that there were restrictions about what produce could even be taken across state lines. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruisine21 Posted November 19, 2017 #19 Share Posted November 19, 2017 Its not that long ago that there were restrictions about what produce could even be taken across state lines. It’s still the case. You can’t take fruit from the mainland into Tasmania Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Elephant Posted November 20, 2017 #20 Share Posted November 20, 2017 There is a fruit and veg eatable disposal requirement between Canberra and Adelaide as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Womble99 Posted November 20, 2017 #21 Share Posted November 20, 2017 It’s still the case. You can’t take fruit from the mainland into Tasmania Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Still vehicle checks on the highway from Vic to SA as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GUT2407 Posted November 20, 2017 #22 Share Posted November 20, 2017 And it has been known to have vehicle checks of on roads into the Hunter Valley, when grape virus are around and when the Equine Flu was raging. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Big_M Posted November 20, 2017 #23 Share Posted November 20, 2017 My wife had been given a bag (factory sealed) of rice and some jams as gifts from the US when she travelled with work. There have been cases of bugs roaming around in rice, despite factory sealed. It's a bit like how you can buy grains like oats and wheat and still see weevils or similar in them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare MicCanberra Posted November 20, 2017 #24 Share Posted November 20, 2017 Rice isn’t considered a processed food. Also Oz produces rice. Jam is processed food. Sent from my iPad using Forums I realise that. It was treated in some way with some spices or something added, in any case, they took it and while my wife was not disappointed, she was surprised. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare MicCanberra Posted November 20, 2017 #25 Share Posted November 20, 2017 My initial thoughts exactly. Jam is not a threat but raw rice is . Aussie is particularly sensitive to its protection of its primary produce. Importation of apples and bananas come to mind. During the wipeout of the Australian banana crop a few years back the authorities still refused to import bananas and the public just had to lump it or pay the huge prices for the limited local stock that was available. Its not that long ago that there were restrictions about what produce could even be taken across state lines. It wasn't cooked rice but neither was it raw, in any I agree, we need to protect Australia's bio-security. State line restrictions are still in place at many airports and border crossings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now