Hi guys,
I'm currently in Vietnam and will be arriving back to the Land of Oz in less than a week.
Here's my question.
I'm planning to bring back some wooden/bamboo instruments and was wondering if they'll allow me.
Instruments include a xylophone made out of bamboo and a horn of somesort that is used to create sound.
And also, delicious crisp dried fruits.
Any advice? Thnks guys. Happy new year, may you all save.
I'm not so sure about that. You need to watch Border Security more often :) Check with AQIS (Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service) or email them with a query, if you cannot find a specific category here: http://www.daff.gov.au/biosecurity.
Pretty sure you can. Just declare them and they'll inspect and treat for pests if necessary.
Oh, just make sure the horn is not from a protected species. That's a big no no and it'll be confiscated and you'll get a hefty fine.
THANKS GUYS! I just needed some clarification and it helped. Cheers, I'll be home in less than a week. See ya soon! Oh and the horns, I'm not sure what species it came from and/or whether its endangered or not. But I doubt it. So ima 'yolo'.
The bamboo stuff will be inspected and treated if Q see fit.
Dried fruit, depending on how it has been processed really. If it is a locally done sun dried type stuff it will probably not be allowed, but if "factory" processed and packed it might be allowed.
As always with this sort of thing, declare all and let them decide.
I've found Q at SYD to be usually helpful and friendly if you do the right thing.
We bought home some instruments from Cambodia including a drum and a string instrument. We declared both. The string was fine but the drum had a snakeskin on it which was not permitted back in to australia. We asked the customs officer if we could remove the skin and keep the rest and he was fine with that. Now we just need to find a new skin to coat our drum with and we have almost the authentic item :)
Anything with animal skin (most drums) will need to be treated, which is very exxy.
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Yep definitely declare it all. I wouldn't spend a lot of money on food stuffs, because a lot is not allowed. It is hit and miss really, and so, unless you are an experienced quarantine officer, you won't know until they give you a decision at the barrier. You will probably find that the wood/bamboo gets thru ok after inspection. Quarantine, and protection of Aust is such an important role.
You can bring any food as long as its not raw or fruit and veg.
any processed food is fine.
Once again, and with respect, I would like to emphasise "Declare It"
Also, make sure that all foods are in retail packaging, sealed. Not in some home sandwich bag.
Just bought in a genuine python snakeskin handbag from Bali with no problems. Have always been told by customs to declare before going through the green or red channels which we do - which eleviates any further situations. Just be honest to them.
a hand bag might be considered "manufactured" where any villager can make a drum and just dry the skin in the sun.
Came back from Bali recently, both my sister-in-law and I bought some grass woven baskets/little hand bags in Bali, they were from the same shop, they were identical. We both declare the baskets, but we had to go through customs separately. My baskets went through ok, quarantine guy didn't care. But my sister-in-law's quarantine guy confiscated all hers! Go figure!
As others have commented, just declare it. However, with the processed fruit, it cannot be citrus as I tried to bring in dried citrus peel and it was confiscated, also, best if the dried fruit you bring in is seedless. I have brought in preserved and dried mangos without trouble in the last.
yeah.. should be no problem..
just declare them when you arrive.