Littleproud said gifts could contain pests and diseases that can seriously impact the nation’s environment, agriculture, and tourism industries.
“Lunar New Year is a special celebration for many people here and overseas, but around this time, we see lots of biosecurity risk items intercepted at the border,” he said on Jan. 12.
“These items are brought to Australia by international travellers and found in mail items received at our international mail centres.
Littleproud said that “gifts that might pose a biosecurity risk include those containing products such as meat, eggs, fruits and vegetables, plant material and herbs used in traditional medicines.”
Many popular Lunar New Year gifts also contain pork, which could carry African Swine Fever (ASF), a serious and highly contagious disease which affects pigs and is currently incurable.
The statement listed that common Lunar New Year items that can pose as biosecurity risks include meat products, egg products including duck eggs and mooncakes, dairy products, traditional herbal medicines as well as fresh and dried fruits such as citrus, persimmons, lychees and longans.
“Fruit can carry invasive pests such as exotic fruit flies, and diseases such as citrus canker. These could seriously impact on our fruit industries.”
Currently, biosecurity risks to Australia include the potential introduction of species such as Giant African Snails, diseases such as ASF, and the risk of disease outbreak through introduced species such as the Asian honeybee.
Littleproud reminded that travellers must declare any food, plant material or animal products on their incoming passenger declaration.
Non-compliance could result in an infringement notice of up to $2,664 and could result in a cancelled visa for more serious offences.
“If you are expecting or ordering gifts from overseas, make sure they are not a biosecurity risk, or they will be exported or destroyed.
“The best way to ensure gifts arrive safely and on time is to check what items may not be permitted into Australia and to share this message with your friends and family.”