scrb11

Heard about the stringent requirements, the need to declare.

http://www.daff.gov.au/aqis/travel/e...alia/cant-take

So what's the practical experience? Has anyone here been able to take dried goods, like cashews or candies as snacks, maybe crackers, maybe beef jerky, maybe protein bars?

Or is it really stringent and you shouldn't even bother?

ivenotbeeneverywhere

Australians, luckily over the last 12 months have been allowed to manufacture those sorts of goods seeing that a lot of Australians went to the USA in the last few years and saw what wonderful things could be made if only one was allowed to.
We petitioned the Government, who just wanted us to remain as peasants without 21st Century luxuries, but they finally caved in to our needs. We had an influx of American fast food stores which were really great 'cause now we too have obesity which is getting worse but as long as we can chomp into a Big Mac its OK. Before all this we still had ricketts in this country because of the poor eating conditions, not to mention a lot of nutritional ailments.

YOU DO NOT BRING FOOD INTO THIS COUNTRY BECAUSE WE DO NOT HAVE A LOT OF DISEASES THAT YOU AND THE REST OF THE WORLD HAVE!!!!!!!!!!! ok?

margo_oz

If you must, and why on earth would you, declare them at Customs and prepare to have them confiscated.

stormbird

You will have absolutely no problem with food AS LONG AS YOU DECLARE IT!! The quarantine officers are actually very kind and helpful and they will check out what you have and say yay or nay.

On the whole biscuits, candies and the such like should present no problems and you'll be able to keep them. Some people try to bring in some seriously 'suss' stuff - we see it a lot on our local version of Border Patrol - particular incoming from Asia - weird food and plants etc and you can still see the bugs etc in there.

As an island nation we work very hard to keep our primary industries etc protected against anything that would threaten our crops and animals etc.

But like I said be honest and you will not have a problem I promise you - our immigration/quarantine staff are generally extremely friendly, courteous and polite.

stormbird

Oh, we all posted at the same time but I have to say Margo I'll often take some food items with me overseas - have you never done that?

I think it was a fair question.

margo_oz

only Vegemite! (most places)

Salt and vinegar chips (Sweden)

Cherry Ripes (England)

Tim Tams (Scotland)

scrb11

I remember a Simpsons episode where they took or brought a frog into or from Australia and caused an ecological disaster.

ivenotbeeneverywhere

Must have been bringing it in 'cause we eat frogs to supliment our diets.

Melnq8

I think it's a fair question too, why all the sarcasm?

scrb11 -

I'm an expat living in Australia and I bring foodstuffs in all the time, but I declare EVERYTHING. Certain items are absolute no-nos, such as most meat products (other than heat processed, such as canned...forget about that beef jerky), dairy, fresh fruit and veg, some dried fruits, teas containing fruit, raw nuts, eggs, items containing eggs, and a lot of stuff one wouldn't normally travel with anyway (although you'd be surprised what people put in their luggage!).

Australia has enough bugs, it doesn't need anymore.

Bringing honey into WA is an absolute no-no, even if it's coming in from other states in Australia.

Generally speaking, items that have been commercially processed are okay, meaning the more refined the easier to get in.

Chocolate, candies, commercially prepared cookies, and protein bars shouldn't be a problem., but you'll still want to declare everything. Nuts are hit and miss. If they're processed and in a can, they're probably okay. I once had four pounds of out-of-shell pecans taken from me in Perth Customs because they were worried about small pieces of the shell still being in the bag. Fair enough, I knew it was a risk.

Wood items are also closely scrutinized, especially if you're coming in from Asia.

When we moved to Australia, we had to catagorize and declare every single item in our household shipment that was made of/contained wood, salt, food, medicine, etc. It was huge, but Customs didn't have any issues other than with some food products - oregano, and various spices, dried beans, cake mixes (they contain egg), etc.

I've been taking food to/from different countries for years and I routinely take Australian foodstuffs back to the US.

ivenotbeeneverywhere

You have a pathetic sense of humour Melnq8 so perhaps its about time you learnt something about the Australian nature when asked, what could be seen as, a question of ignorance. For heaven's sake why would anyone want to bring in cashews ( we grow them) , candies (lollies or sweets) we have a larger selection than you do in the USA, crackers ( America bought out our great biscuit company so they could get good biscuits, beef jerky ( well hell mate Australia is bigger than Texas has we have a lot of beef here) protein bars ( don't need them 'cause we have really good, fresh food but still we have the good ole protein bar.
What planet do you think Australia is on?

stormbird

Sorry Liz, but I have to say that I don't think your responses are justified at all. I don't think the question was one of ignorance at all and I do think it was fair to ask and I think Melnq8s response is more than reasonable and answers the question that was asked.

Some things may seem the same but are quite different and for an example I'll say candy/lollies. Back in the day when I was a lolly addict I always took my own with me when I travelled because well, nothing I've ever tried overseas could compare to what I'm used to.

I think the OP is aware of the situation but just needed some clarification.

I just think you're being unnecessarily rude today.

TravelSarah

I was flying around a lot and the worst thing you can do is not to declare any food you have with you. It can get pretty annoying, even if you only forgot to do so; friends of mine have now a nice remark that they tried to bring an apple into New Zealand without declaring it... which basically means that they gonna be checked very thoroughly the next time they wanna enter the country again...

Meat, dairy and fruits are nothing you should try, but as already said you will have usually only little trouble if any with processed items. Just declare them and talk to the guys at customs, they can explain you why it isn't allowed to bring in in detail.

Main reason is to protect the beautiful and unique nature down here and with all the strange bugs and diseases lurking around the world the need for it is understandable...

pat_woolford

I too once brought a whole household shipment to Sydney from where I lived in Hong Kong, which included a lot of rattan furniture, and no issues with Customs. They just fumigated the lot. A few months ago I had no problem bringing in spices from Turkey, I did declare them (Gold Coast airport) and they were deemed OK.

scrb11, that wasn't a frog, it was the cane toad from Hawaii imported to Queensland in the 1930's in an attempt to counter the sugar cane beetle, there it failed but killed just about everything else in its wake - it was and still is an ecological disaster.

margo, its not a bad idea to travel with Vegemite, a proven hangover remedy, must be the VitaminB.

ivenotbeeneverywhere

Stormbird I hear you, when I said one of "ignorance" the meaning of ignorance was more in terms of not knowing what is and what is not in Australia and not the "not quite right" meaning of ignorance when used to mean that someone is stupid. I was provoked by Melnq8 because she is always taking umbrage at whatever I say whether she is talking through her hat or not.
I would say though, having lived in North America, that if I asked on the USA forum if I should bring candies, crackers, cashews etc on my trip to the USA to fortify me during my holiday I think I would get some very colourful replies that would not be in the true meaning of ignorance.

ivenotbeeneverywhere

Just in case Melnq8 is hanging about - I use the English Concise Dictionary ....... ignorance means "want of knowledge".

Clifton

What ever you do, don't arrive with Hershey's in your bag. People been sitting in the Sydney Gaol for years after making a mistake like that.

Seriously, Mel's post is right. Just remember that the chocolate here will cause you to make horrible faces the next time you are forced to ingest a Hershey's Kiss. My mom just brought me a bag because she thought I'd be missing them. Then I ate one because I thought she might be right. Oh... my...

Sadly, I used to like those...

Clifton

ps - I didn't pull a face while she could see me and I was grateful. She is my mom after all, who flew halfway around the world clutching a bag of bad chocolate just for me. I'm not a monster after all.

Melnq8

I have no idea what I did to provoke you Liz, although it doesn't seem to take much to set you off.

ivenotbeeneverywhere

Me and a lot of others Mel

stormbird

The 'ignorant' reply is very obvious here if you ask me. It was a fair question and answered with a terribly sarcastic, caustic reply with yelling at the end, that was totally uncalled for.

Maybe you are having a bad day ivenotbeeneverywhere or maybe even a bad week but your responses have not been in the spirit of these forums lately.

<<ivenotbeeneverywhere on Nov 30, 10 at 4:47pm
Me and a lot of others Mel>>

Certainly not I Mel, and I doubt that anybody else agrees with this statement.