Page Content
Some Festive Season gifts should never be mailed
The end of year festive season is a time when family and friends get together to celebrate. It is also a time when you may be sent gifts from overseas or purchase gifts online from overseas vendors. To prevent your goods from being held up at quarantine it is important that you and your overseas family and friends are familiar with Australia's quarantine laws.
Remember, all incoming mail is either X-rayed, checked by detector dogs or inspected by quarantine officers. To help protect Australia from serious pests and diseases, remind overseas friends and family some things should never be mailed to you.
The following is a list of commonly seized gifts during this time of year. Some of these items may be treated then released (fees will apply).
-
Christmas cake
-
pine cones
-
spruce cuttings
-
mistletoe
-
fruits and vegetables
-
special treats of cheeses
-
nuts
-
salami and other meats
-
straw Christmas decorations
-
straw packages
-
any items with bark, for example nativity sets.
Commercially prepared and packaged cooked Christmas cakes (not containing uncooked nuts or fruit), biscuits and puddings (not containing suet) that are shelf stable may be permitted by quarantine, subject to inspection on arrival. Sending commercially prepared and packaged chocolate and other confectionary by mail to Australia is permitted by quarantine, subject to inspection on arrival.
Remind friends and relatives overseas about our strict quarantine laws and tell them that a list of ALL contents and packaging must be included on the postal declaration label.
All quarantine items must be correctly declared on the postal declaration label, including:
- all food, spices, herbs, meat and products containing dairy, egg and tea
- anything made from wood, plant or animal material
- all packaging material, including straw, egg cartons and used fruit boxes.
Most declared items will be sent to the recipient after inspection. However, anything found to be a quarantine risk will be seized and the recipient will be notified of the removal.
Depending on the risk, recipients will be given the option to:
-
pay for the item to be treated to make it safe
-
pay to re-export the item, or
-
have the item destroyed by quarantine.
Items will only be held for 30 days. It is important that all declarations on mail parcels are true and provide sufficient detail about the goods inside. Failing to declare quarantine risk items could result in prosecution and/or a fine of over A$60,000 or 10 years in prison, which may result in a criminal record.
Remember: to prevent your goods from being held up at quarantine it is important that you and your overseas family and friends are familiar with Australia's quarantine laws.
To find out what you can and cannot mail to Australia:
- view information on What can't be mailed to Australia
- view information in languages other than English
- within Australia call AQIS on 1800 020 504
- email: International Mail