Rakhi: Important quarantine information

AQIS understands the importance of celebrating the sacred tradition of Raksha-Bandhan. If you are expecting gifts through the mail and want them to have the best chance of arriving on time it is important to ensure that your family and friends overseas are aware of Australia’s strict quarantine laws.

Although Rakhi gifts are sent with love, your family may not realise these gifts can unknowingly harbour pests and diseases that can harm Australia’s unique environment and industries.

All international mail is assessed using x-rays and detector dogs. Mail articles containing risk items are opened by Australia Post and inspected by AQIS. Risk items sent for Rakhi include:

  • Rakhi threads made with seeds or flowers
  • traditional Indian sweets (mithai) which contain milk, such as barfi, mysore pak, gulab jamun, rasgulla, pedas or soan-papdi
  • grains and dried fruits

All these items contain animal or plant material.

Some suggestions for safe items your family can send are:

  • cotton Rakhi threads with plastic, fabric, gold or silver beads
  • gold or silver coins
  • personalised photo items
  • artificial flowers

Make sure your family correctly lists the contents of all mail articles and fills out any postal declarations labels or forms. Declaring items does not automatically mean they will be confiscated – in many cases, most are returned or sent on after inspection. Some items may require treatment to make them safe before being sent to you. Where treatment is not an option, the items will not be permitted into Australia and you will be notified.

Make sure you can celebrate Rakhi properly and strengthen the bond you share with your siblings by ensuring no risk items are sent by your family.

For more information download the Rakhi fact sheet and brochures:

English

Hindi

Punjabi

Last reviewed:
04 Aug 2011
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