Keen noses help at Christmas mail time

4 December 2009
DAFF09/011D

The Christmas period is a busy time of year for the AQIS detector dogs that sniff out potential pests and diseases in mail arriving in Australia.

Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Acting Deputy Secretary Craig Burns said the dogs play an important role in Australia’s border biosecurity activities.

“These activities safeguard Australia’s plants and animals from disease. The dogs help by identifying mail and parcels that could be quarantine risks,” Mr Burns said.

“Biosecurity is everyone’s business. We all need to be aware of quarantine requirements and pass the message on to family and friends overseas to fill out the postal declaration label correctly and  not to send prohibited items.

“Prohibited gifts include pine cones, spruce cuttings, mistletoe, Christmas cakes with suet or uncooked fruit or nuts, salami and other meats, cheeses, straw Christmas decorations and other plant material and animal products.”

AQIS currently has 90 detector dogs at mail centres, airports and seaports around Australia. They are selected for their keen sense of smell and hunt drive, and are mostly labradors and beagles. The dogs undergo a 13-week training course to detect a range of quarantine risk material.

Last festive season AQIS international mail centres intercepted about 40,000 mail articles of quarantine interest from October to January. Depending on the quarantine risk the item may be released, treated for a fee, returned to sender for a fee, or destroyed by AQIS.

All travellers, including international students returning from overseas holidays, should know that failing to comply with Australian quarantine laws could be a costly mistake.

Internet shopping is another potential hazard. Items like herbal teas and home-cooked treats can introduce pests and disease, and seeds or pinecones can propagate or carry pests that could damage Australia’s bushland or plantation forests.

“Everyone can help reduce Australia’s biosecurity risks by understanding and complying with quarantine laws,” Mr Burns said.
 
More information on prohibited items.

Note to media: photographs and vision are available on request.

Media inquiries: 02 6272 3232