AQIS 20818NESB                                                        19 September 2008

diwali gifts up for Quarantine inspection

Diwali is an important festival that involves the exchange of gifts — and that means it’s a busy period for the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS).

Part of AQIS’s role is to check international mail and passengers’ luggage arriving in Australia for potential pests and diseases. For Diwali, Quarantine officers will examine gifts containing prohibited food items such as spices, herbs, nuts, seeds or plant material.

AQIS International Mail Manager Caroline Martin, said some of these gifts could introduce pests and diseases with devastating effects for Australia’s import and export markets. Khapra beetle could hitch a ride with traditional Diwali gifts, and Indian sweets containing dairy products could carry diseases.

“In the past year Quarantine officers seized more than 1029 kilograms of items mailed from India, because they contained banned spices, herbs, plant material and dairy products,” Ms Martin said.

All international mail is X-rayed, inspected or checked by detector dogs and any packages containing prohibited items are opened and inspected. Depending on the quarantine risk, the item may be released, treated, returned to sender or destroyed.

Not complying with Australian quarantine laws can be a costly mistake. If you don’t declare quarantine risk items on your Incoming Passenger Card, you could receive an on-the-spot fine of up to A$220. For more serious breaches you could be prosecuted and face a fine of up to A$66 000 which may result in a criminal record.

To enjoy a happy and prosperous Diwali, AQIS asks you to:

• remind friends and family not to send prohibited food items including spices and herbs, nuts, seeds or plant material; or Indian sweets such as barfi, mysore pak, ras malai, gulab jamun and pedas (and any other food items that contain dairy products)

• inform friends and family overseas about Australia’s quarantine laws
• ensure the sender correctly fills out the mail declaration form and lists all items in the parcel, including packing material
• correctly fill in your Incoming Passenger Card before landing in Australia.

For more information:

• visit www.aqis.gov.au
• download or request a copy of the What Can’t I Take Into Australia? and the What Can’t Be Mailed To Australia? brochures
• call AQIS on 1800 020 504 (free call in Australia)

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