Information for a Cultural or Sporting Event

Easter - Important biosecurity information.

Are you organising or attending a cultural or sporting event in Australia?

To avoid delays to your participation in this event, you need to know before you arrive what you can and can't bring into Australia. This information is also available in other languages.

Australia is unique in its isolation and certain pests and diseases could devastate Australia's native wildlife and its environment, tourism and agriculture industries. To prevent that from occurring, Australia places strict controls on the articles that can and can't be brought into Australia. If you don't comply with Australia's quarantine requirements you may commit an offence. This may result in prosecution or an on the spot fine and your goods might be destroyed.

Before you arrive, find out what you can't bring into Australia

Some articles are completely prohibited entry and may be destroyed. Some articles are prohibited entry into Australia unless AQIS has granted an import permit. Some articles are prohibited unless they are treated on arrival in Australia.

Examples of articles that may carry pests or diseases include:

  • drums, other musical instruments and costumes made from materials such as rawhide, feathers, fur, skins, seeds, nuts, wood, bark or other plant material
  • recreational freshwater equipment such as watercraft, wetsuits and fishing gear, as they can pose a significant risk of bringing in the freshwater alga, Didymo
  • soiled sporting gear and footwear, including bicycles and golf equipment.

To help you experience a hassle free arrival, you need to do the following things before you leave for Australia:

  • Consider sourcing these articles in Australia and/or shipping them to Australia well before the event.
  • If that's not possible, notify AQIS Airports as soon as possible of what you plan to bring into Australia. You will be informed if any of these articles are prohibited, require an import permit or must be treated.
  • If an import permit is required, allow several weeks for the assessment of your application (fees apply). If a permit is granted, you must then comply with any conditions imposed.
  • If your articles need to be treated on arrival in Australia, allow several weeks (fees may apply).

Some of the articles you wish to bring into Australia may be subject to CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora). For further information contact the Department of the Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities.

Further information is available from the following:

Events showing corresponding quarantine items of concern
Event Quarantine Items

New Year

ornaments made with straw, seeds and conifer sprigs

Valentine's Day

fresh and dried flowers

St Patrick's Day

shamrock plants and seeds

Easter

 

hardboiled eggs, painted eggshells, straw or hay
Hajj Pilgrims all wood products such as religious articles and toys, all food items including dates, spices, seeds, nuts, teas, fresh and dried fruit and vegetables, Holy water, all meat and meat products, plants including raw tobacco, live cuttings, roots and bulbs, all poultry items such as eggs or products containing egg, all dairy products
Rakhi  Rakhi threads made with seeds or flowers; traditional Indian sweets (mithai) containing milk such as barfi, mysore pak, gulab jamun, rasgulla, pedas or soan-papdi; grains and dried fruits 
Chinese New Year chicken and preserved pork sausages, dried beef
products containing eggs, especially duck eggs
citrus, persimmons, longan, fresh bamboo shoots
lychee nuts and lotus nuts
fresh and dried fruit including lychees, herbal and citrus teas
dairy products such as milk and yoghurt
spices
wooden artefacts
Chinese herbal medicines containing ganoderma fungus

Mid-Autumn Festival (Moon Festival)
(Autumn Moon)

mooncakes containing egg yolks or meat

Spring (northern and southern hemisphere)

seeds and bulbs

Diwali

 

Indian sweets such as barfi, ras malai, gulab jamun and pedas; products containing dairy; fresh and dried fruit; nuts, seeds, herbs, spices and tea; plants, flowers and plant material

Sukkot

etrog, branches of palm, myrtle or willow

Halloween

pumpkins, corn husk dolls

Christmas/festive season

decorations containing pine cones, vine wreaths, spruce; hampers containing prohibited foods including meat and dairy products
Sending 'Khat' to Australia The importation of khat to Australia is controlled under the Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulations.
Last reviewed:
25 Mar 2013
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