The Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service is known for being very strict (for good reason, and keep up the good work boys) and it is possibly getting stricter, you know why.
So how does this affect us? There has been an interest of late in blogger exchanges, and I myself have very luckily received preserved plums from Reid in Hawaii, and Alberto is going to send me chillis! YAY
Nic from Bakingsheet is thinking about having a food exchange, can you think of anything better? There is a growing number of food bloggers in Australia and we would like to participate too, legally of course. The problem is, if you are going to send something across the world, you dont want it to be confiscated by customs.
So, I did a little digging and found some very interesting resources
1) The AQIS database: this resource lets you enter in a product and a country and see if it can be sent. How cool is that!
2) The customs guide on what can be sent to Australia.
This is the food section from the Customs website
If you see a cross, you can not send it, if you see an eye then it is a maybe, they will open your package and inspect your goods.
| BEANS, PEAS, CEREAL SEEDS includes handicrafts and souvenirs that contain or are made from these seeds |  |
| BISCUITS, CAKES, CONFECTIONERY includes chocolate, sweets, crisps, roasted nuts, pretzels |  |
| EGGS includes whole, dried, powdered and uncooked egg products | |
| FRUIT and VEGETABLES - FRESH (cooked, dried, frozen, canned or bottled are allowed) | |
| FRUIT and VEGETABLES - DRIED includes mushrooms, citrus peel or dried banana | |
| HONEY includes royal jelly and propolis | |
| BEE PRODUCTS includes honey comb and beeswax | |
| MEAT- UNCANNED and ALL PORK PRODUCTS includes fresh, dried, frozen, smoked or salted | |
| MILK and MILK PRODUCTS includes all products that contain milk ingredients (NZ dairy products and up to 1kg of baby formula per infant are allowed) | |
| OTHER FOODS includes herbs and spices, breakfast cereals, Vegemite, flour, roasted coffee beans, jam, nutritional/dietary supplements | |
| POPPING CORN, RAW UNROASTED NUTS includes raw peanuts, chestnuts (NZ chestnuts are allowed) | |
| SALMON AND TROUT PRODUCTS ask about special import conditions | |
| TEAS, COFFEE, KAVA, JUICE and OTHER DRINKS containing milk and/or eggs are prohibited | |
I hope this information helps anyone who plans on participating in future food exchanges.
5 comments:
Not a problem Amy!
I just hope it helps a few people :)
Thanks for posting this Clare. It'll be a big help to everyone. I'm planning on announcing some info on the exchange after SHF this weekend.
Hi Nic,
thats cool, I am glad you think it is a good idea. I can't wait for the info, your awesome for doing this.
Oh great post, clare! I remember having to check and check and check each time I come back from overseas to make sure there isnt anything that's forbidden. I didn't know honey is on the okay list. A friend of mine came back from NZ with pots of honey were told the honey were not allowed so they had to hand over the honey!
Basically cooked food is okay. As with meat, like pork floss or any sort of meat floss, it has to be canned or tinned.
Hi Pinkcocoa :)
I am so glad that you like it! I didnt think honey was allowed either.... I think it kind of comes under the discretion of the customs officer too
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