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What Can't Be Mailed To Australia?
Quarantine helps protect Australia. Food, plant material and animal products from overseas could introduce some of the world’s most serious pests and diseases into Australia, devastating our valuable agriculture and tourism industries and unique environment.
Quarantine and international mail
AQIS checks goods arriving at international mail centres, airports and seaports. Quarantine officers, X-ray machines and detector dogs screen all of the 150 million items of international mail sent to Australia each year, intercepting around 80,000 high-risk items.
Why are some items removed when I can buy them in Australia?
Some items that are removed from your mail may be commercially available in Australia. What you buy in Australia has been manufactured, processed and imported under strict quarantine conditions. Similar items purchased overseas that are home-made or traditionally produced could carry quarantine pest or disease risks and cannot be imported.
What will AQIS remove from international mail?
This is not a complete list of prohibited items. Some of these items can be treated and released (fees will apply). Any items containing insects or larvae will be removed and must be treated.
Meat and Meat Products
- all uncanned meat — including fresh, dried, frozen, cooked, smoked, salted or preserved meat
- packaged meals (including noodles) containing meat
- mooncakes containing meat
- remedies and medicines containing animal material
- pet food including canned and dried food and supplements
Seeds and Nuts
- seeds including vegetable and flower seeds, unidentified seeds, birdseed and some commercially-packaged seeds*
- gifts, ornaments and toys filled with seeds
- pine cones
- raw nuts
- grains and legumes including lentils, popping corn and cereal grains
- raw/green coffee beans
Plants and Soil
- all plant material including bulbs, whole plants, cuttings, roots, flowers and stems
- soil, including small souvenir or sentimental samples
- footwear, sporting and camping equipment contaminated with soil, manure or plant material
- gifts, ornaments and toys filled with straw, plant matter, sand or soil
Fruit and Vegetables
- fresh fruit and vegetables
- dried fruit and vegetables containing seeds or fruit peel
Dairy, Eggs and Egg Products
- cheese, milk, butter and other dairy products*
- packaged meals and other foods containing more than 10 per cent dairy, or 10% or more egg (whole, dried and powdered, such as cake mix, salad dressing, mayonnaise)
- mooncakes containing egg
Plant Material
- tea containing seeds, fruit skin (for example citrus and apple peel) and fruit pieces
- remedies and medicines containing herbs, seeds, bark, fungi and dried plant material*
- dried flower arrangements and potpourri
- dried herbs or leaves
- handicrafts – including wreaths and Christmas decorations – containing seeds, raw nuts, corn, pine cones, grapevines, bark, moss, straw or other plant material
- wooden items with bark or signs of insects present
Live Animals, Animal Products
- all mammals, birds, birds’ eggs and nests, fish, snakes, turtles, lizards, scorpions, amphibians, crustaceans and insects
- souvenirs, artefacts and goods made of animal products such as raw hide, feathers, teeth, bones, wool and animal hair
- medical and animal samples
- diagnostic kits and micro-organisms*
* Special conditions apply-check import conditions on ICON
For further detailed assessment on individual items please refer to the AQIS Import Conditions Database (ICON)
For information about Customs import requirements, visit www.customs.gov.au. For information about wildlife trade laws, visit www.environment.gov.au/travel.
- What happens to quarantine items?
- Internet and mail order purchases
- International cultural and seasonal events and quarantine
- Tips for sending international mail to Australia
- What can't I take into Australia?
Download the brochure What can't be mailed to Australia? 
PDF [1mb] (includes graphics) 
Word [72kb] (text only version) or view the brochure in other languages
If you have trouble accessing the above documents contact: International Mail or Phone: 1800 020 504 (free call within Australia) or +61 2 6272 3933
