Chinese New Year: Important biosecurity information

The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry- Biosecurity is committed to minimising risks to Australia’s unique environment. Biosecurity protects our plant, animal and human health by managing the risk of unwanted pests and diseases arriving in the country, and everyone can do their part to ensure the protection of Australia from these biosecurity risks.

Some traditional food and gifts that are given for Chinese New Year may contain prohibited biosecurity risk material and should not be sent or brought to Australia. To avoid disappointment it is important that you understand Australia’s strict biosecurity requirements.

At Australian international airports and mail centres passengers and mail articles may screened using x–ray, detector dogs or inspected by Biosecurity officers. If items of biosecurity concern are found, depending on the risk, three options are available:

• pay for the item to be treated and it will then be sent to them
• pay to export the item back to the sender
• have the item destroyed at no cost.

Examples of some prohibited Chinese New Year items include:

• chicken and preserved pork sausages and dried beef
• products containing eggs, especially duck eggs
• citrus, persimmons, and fresh bamboo shoots
• fresh and dried fruit including lychees and longans
• dairy products such as milk and yoghurt
• Chinese herbal medicines containing ganoderma fungus or cordyceps

If your family or friends overseas plan to send or bring you Chinese New Year gifts, ensure they are aware of what they can and can’t send or bring to Australia. Items containing food, plant or animal material can pose a serious risk to Australia’s biosecurity and must be correctly listed on the Postal Declaration Label or Incoming Passenger Card. 

Failure to declare items of Biosecurity concern could result in a fine or possible prosecution.

When returning to Australia after visiting your family and carrying gifts through the airport:

• Pack any gifts that you will be declaring at the top of your luggage ready for inspection by a Biosecurity officer.

When you arrive in Australia you are required to:

• Correctly complete an Incoming Passenger Card—this is a legal document.
• Tick “Yes” for any food, plant materials or animal products you may be carrying.

You can ask your airline staff for an Incoming Passenger Card in other languages if required.

For more information on what you can and cannot mail or bring into Australia:

• Chinese New Year fact sheet - English
• view information on What can't be mailed to Australia or What can’t I take into Australia
• view information in languages other than English  
• within Australia call 1800 020 504
• email: International Mail, Airports or Seaports.