• Home
• Australia Customs Quarantine Rules

Australia Customs and Quarantine

Import / Export Requirements for Australia Customs.

This is a summary of prohibited and banned goods relating to Australia Customs procedures and Australian Quarantine Inspection. Information provide may be subject to change by AQIS and is shown here for information purposes only.

Australia Quarantine Customs Rules. Import Export Requirements for Australia. Customs. Banned Prohibited and Allowed goods for import.

Declare or Beware

You must declare for inspection all food, plant material and animal products on arrival in Australia to ensure they are free of pests and diseases. Some products may require TREATMENT to make them safe.

What Happens to Items I Declare?

Prohibited items will be seized and destroyed by AQIS. In many cases the goods you declare will be returned to you after inspection. However, any item that presents a disease risk or is found to contain insects or larvae will be withheld. You will be given a range of options for the item depending on the quarantine risk:

• Treating the item to make it safe (for example fumigation, irradiation)*
• Holding the item until an import permit is presented*
• Storing the item at the airport for collection when you leave Australia*
• Re-exporting the item*
• Destroying the item.

AQIS makes every effort to minimise the risk of damage but does not accept liability for damage that may occur as a result of treatment.

* These treatments are subject to fees.

Prohibited Goods (Banned)

These items are prohibited and will be seized and destroyed by AQIS

• DAIRY PRODUCTS - All dairy products (unless from a country listed as foot and mouth free). Whole and dried products that contain more than 10% dairy product as an ingredient. Infant formula accompanying a child and New Zealand dairy products are allowed.
• EGGS AND EGG PRODUCTS - All whole, dried and powdered egg, and egg products that contain more than 10% egg as an ingredient, such as mayonnaise.
• SEEDS AND NUTS - Cereal grains, popping corn, raw nuts, chestnuts, pine cones, birdseed, unidentified seeds, and some commercially packaged seeds and seed ornaments
• LIVE PLANTS - All potted/bare rooted plants, cuttings, roots, bulbs, corms, rhizomes, stems and other viable plant material
• LIVE ANIMALS - All mammals, birds, birds' eggs, and nests, fish, reptiles, amphibians and insects
• UNCANNED MEAT PRODUCTS - All animal species - fresh, dried, frozen, cooked, smoked, salted or preserved meat, including salami and sausages.
• FRESH FRUIT AND VEGETABLES - All fresh and frozen fruit and vegetable

Goods That Must be Declared

These items must be declared and inspected for signs of insects or disease. Some items may require treatment before being allowed in.

Food

• Cooked and raw food and ingredients
• Dried fruit and vegetables
• Fish and other seafood products
• Noodles and rice
• Packaged meals including airline food
• Herbs and spices
• Herbal and traditional medicines, remedies, tonics and herbal teas
• Snack foods
• Biscuits, cakes and confectionery
• Tea, coffee and other milk-based beverages

ANIMAL PRODUCTS

• Feathers, bones, horns and tusks (must be clean and free of any tissue)
• Skins, hides, and furs (rawhide including drums, shields and dog chews are prohibited)
• Wool and animal hair (includes fleece, yarn, and craft items)
• Stuffed animals and birds (taxidermy certificate required. Some may be prohibited under endangered species laws)
• Shells and coral (including jewellery, curios and souvenirs)
• Bee products including pollen, beeswax and honeycomb
• Used animal equipment including veterinary equipment and medicines, shearing or meat trade tools, saddlery and tack and animal or bird cages
• Pet food is prohibited

PLANT MATERIAL

• Wooden articles and carvings including painted or lacquered items (bark is prohibited and will be removed or require treatment)
• Artefacts, handicrafts and curios made from plant material
• Mats, bags and other items made from plant material, palm fronds or leaves (goods made from banana plants are prohibited)
• Straw products and packaging
• Bamboo, cane or rattan basket ware and furnishings
• Pot pourri and coconut shells
• Goods containing cereal grain, corn husks or filled with seeds
• Christmas decorations, wreaths and ornaments (pine cones are prohibited)
• Dried flowers and arrangements
• Fresh flowers and leis (flowers that can be grown from stems such as roses, carnations and chrysanthemums are prohibited)

OTHER GOODS

• Craft and hobby lines made from animal or plant material
• Sporting and camping equipment including tents, footwear, hiking boots, golf equipment, bicycles and fishing equipment
• Footwear, clothing and any items used in rural areas or carrying contamination from soil, faeces or plant material

Additional Information

Phone: 1800 020 504 (free call within Australia)
International Fax Queries: +61 2 6272 4494

Our official Site Here: 1st Move International - Australia Quarantine Forms - Importing into Australia