Sending food to Australia

I'm no expert on posting manufactured baked goods to the Antipodes but I say if it's only a (v. well wrapped) pack of Soreen you have little to lose. I have a friend who posted a kebab to an expat mate in the States. On the customs label he wrote 'slippers'. Sadly the kebab never made it.

I think some states are stricter than others - especially concerning the importation of fruit (even though it's dried and cooked).

If you declare it as "store bought cake" then it may get through. Every thing that is posted to Australia is scanned, so they may pick it up on xray and reject it, or they may let it through as it's a commercially produced item rather than something homemade.

Does this database from the AQIS help at all?

http://www.aqis.gov.au/icon32/asp/ex_querycontent.asp

I have a feeling you can't. They are so strict on what is allowed into the country. My mum usually has to clear out her bag of munchies as the plane touches down as most of it usually is on the list of "not allowed" foods.

I did have a look but it's still not clear - I might email them. Thanks all

Hazel - can you post it seperately to the other things you post? H LOVES malt loaf and we have to buy it from the English Shop ever here (about four quid a loaf !!!). They are VERY VERY strict about what they let in and i cant advise on malt loaf.

MrsB once sent me a package of english chocolate. Loads of different types (Bless her). Anyway, it never arrived and I felt awful. A couple of months later i received it. It had been opened by customs and a letter was put in saying they were suspicious it contained illegal produce and to warn me they would be checking ALL future packages in my name. It was bizarre. MrsB - cocaine smuggler. ? All the chocolate was still there.

However, other chocolate has arrived no problem. Maybe MRsB has a previous record.......

I've sent chocs to my friend in NZ now problem but she's desperate for satsumas and I don't think they'd make it through lol! PMSL at sending the kebab through.

Sunset, I'm very surprised she can't get satsumas in NZ, we used to get them in Melbourne.

Hazel, I doubt it'd get through, but there's no harm in trying. I second the suggestion of writing 'store bought cake' on it. It might help.

My sister bought some cake mix when here and posted it back to herself and it took about 3 months to get through because it was being investigated.

My mum used to bring fruit cake out with her when she came to visit me, always declared it at customs and they always looked at her as if she was mad, and just waved her through! But, I had a jar of Hellmans confiscated - I was gutted.

Red

Yes, I was surprised by that. Maybe she hasn't looked in the right places.

I send my sister chocolate and biscuits and angel delight

My mum sends shreddies

Sometimes the packages get opened but I guess you take your chance really

I'd send it like someone else said and put fruit cake or something on the label and see if it gets through

We've had pot pouri (sp) opened before

They were all just called Mandarins, though.

I think you'll probably be ok.

Fruit if it's processed somehow - cooked in jam or in a pudding for example gets accepted in by customs in my experience. It's raw fruit and veg that's the problem re diseases and insects that they don't like in general.

I recall emailing customs - you can actually do that, although the replies can take a while - re Christmas puddings one year as I didn't want to have them confiscated. The reply came back they were ok but to declare them thoroughly on customs forms. So I would go with the 'commercially made fruit loaf' type of description on the form.

Thanks for all your replies - I might give it a go, well labelled, and see what happens. Though to be honest, the postage on a couple of malt loaves is probably more than just ordering him a couple from the English shop ?

Pans, if it gets through, I'll take orders. Shall I stuff them with cocaine as well?

AQIS are strict: they x-ray all parcels to identify "organic matter" (we watch Border Security/Nothing to Declare!).

Cannot bring in anything contains eggs/poultry- Avian flu; fruit; seeds/cuttings; soil ;meat ; dairy only if for a baby or heavily processed ingredient in certain products.

Regulations also change from time to time. I emailed them a couple of years ago to see if I could import delicious Primula cheese spread...they emailed back to say 'yes' but that was before mad cow 2nd outbreak!