Import regulations by Australia customs

Imports:

AU.$900 worth of goods (AU.$450 for people under 18 and both air and sea crew members ) including gifts (given to you or intended for others).
Alcohol and tobacco products cannot be included in this concession.

2.25 liters of alcoholic beverages for each passenger aged 18 years+.

250 cigarettes, or 250 grams of cigars or tobacco products for each passenger aged 18 years or over. One opened packet containing 25 cigarettes or less is also allowed.
You can pool your duty free concessions if you are a family traveling together.

If you are departing Australia with expensive items (such as computers, cameras and video cameras) and you intend to bring them back to Australia, register these items on the Goods Exported in Passenger Baggage form

If you are bringing in goods made from or including animal products - e.g. items made from rawhide, such as drums, shields, artifacts and any treated skins, hides, furs, hairs or feathers - you will need to declare them on arrival. Some of these items might be prohibited under international wildlife legislation and might require import permits. All permits must be obtained before you enter Australia. Without the correct permits, your products may be seized. Do not rely on the assurances of traders, shopkeepers or other non-government bodies that permits are not required. For further information contact:

Environment Australia on 02 6274 1900 or http://www.deh.gov.au/biodiversity/

Travellers entering or leaving Australia must, if required to do so by a Australian Customs Service officer or a police officer, declare whether or not they have with them any BNIs. BNIs include promissory notes, travellers cheques, personal cheques, money orders and postal orders.

Export regulations by Australia customs

Prohibited items
There are very strict regulations against the import of non-prescribed drugs, weapons, firearms, wildlife, domestic animals and foodstuffs and other potential sources of disease and pestilence. There are severe penalties for drug trafficking. For further details on customs regulations, contact the information centre of the Australian Customs Service (tel: (2) 6275 6666 (from outside Australia) or (1 300) 363 263 (from anywhere in Australia); website: www.customs.gov.au). Customs information booklets can be obtained from the Australian High Commission or Embassy.


Australia has strict laws prohibiting and restricting the export of Australia's native animals and plants

Amounts of $A10000 or more, or equivalent in foreign currency (meaning notes and coins of legal tender), must be reported on departure.

Travellers entering or leaving Australia must, if required to do so by a Australian Customs Service officer or a police officer, declare whether or not they have with them any BNIs. BNIs include promissory notes, travellers cheques, personal cheques, money orders and postal orders.

You must obtain a Restricted Goods Permit from Customs prior to export and items may be subject to an import permit.

You may be required to obtain an export permit or license from the Department of Defence:

Computers, telecommunications, information security (cryptographic items), sensors and lasers, navigation and avionics, marine and propulsion, and defense related goods

Other Australia customs information

A yellow fever certificate is required from travellers over one year of age arriving within six days of leaving or transiting countries with infected areas.

Food drink: Standards of hygiene in food preparation are very high. Milk is pasteurised and meat and vegetables are considered safe to eat. Care should be taken, however, when sampling ?bush tucker? in outback areas as some insects and fauna are highly poisonous unless properly cooked.

Other risks: Occasional outbreaks of dengue fever and Ross River fever have occurred in rural areas in northern Australia in recent years. There have been reports of Murray Valley encephalitis in the Northern Territory. Corals, jellyfish and fresh water crocodiles may prove a hazard to the bather, and heat is a hazard in the northern and central parts of Australia. Insectivorous and fruit-eating bats have been found to harbour a virus related to the rabies virus and should be avoided. Venomous snakes and spiders exist throughout Australia and can be extremely dangerous. Medical assistance should be sought immediately if bitten.

Note: There are strict customs and health controls on entering and leaving the country, and Australian law can inflict severe penalties on health infringements. Australia reserves the right to isolate any person who arrives without the required certificates. Carriers are responsible for expenses of isolation of all travellers arriving by air who are not in possession of the required vaccination certificates. All arriving aircraft are sprayed before disembarkation to prevent the spread of disease-carrying insects.

Health care: Doctors and dentists are highly trained and hospitals are well equipped. There is a reciprocal health agreement with the UK, in emergencies only, which allows residents from the UK free hospital treatment. Passport or proof of UK residence, such as an NHS medical card or a UK driving licence, must be shown. Prescribed medicines, ambulances and treatment at some doctors surgeries must be paid for. Personal insurance for illness and accidents is highly recommended for all visitors. Those wishing to benefit from the agreement should enrol at a Medicare office; this can be done after treatment.

http://www.customs.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=4352