Yahoo News Strict Australia travel rule that could see tourists banned and your visa cancelled
Tourists are being reminded of a strict travel rule which could result in huge fines and even a ban from Australia.
The UK Foreign Office has a warning on its website, informing travellers about the stringent regulations in Australia. It warned: "Australia has strict quarantine rules to keep out pests and diseases that could affect plant, animal or human health. You must fill out an Incoming Passenger Card and either declare any risk goods including food, animal products and plant material (including wooden articles) or dispose of any risk goods in the bins at the airport or sea port."
It went on to warn people: "All luggage is x-rayed on arrival. Any items of concern are further inspected, treated and if necessary confiscated and destroyed. You can be heavily fined for breaches of quarantine regulations.
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"You can find more information on the Department of Agriculture website. You will also be asked to declare whether you have ‘visited a rural area, or been in contact with, or near, farm animals outside Australia in the past 30 days’."
The Department of Agriculture for Australia has more information on its own website, reports BirminghamLive. It says: "You must correctly fill out your Incoming Passenger Card and either declare any risk goods including food, animal products and plant material (including wooden articles) or dispose of any risk goods in the bins at the airport or cruise terminal.
"Declared risk goods will be inspected by a biosecurity officer. They may direct the goods for treatment, export or destruction. Goods that do not pose a biosecurity risk will be returned to you.
"If you provide false or misleading information to a biosecurity officer or on your Incoming Passenger Card, or if you fail to answer questions about the goods or comply with directions given by a biosecurity officer, you may be given an infringement notice of up to $6,260, subject to civil penalty proceedings, and/or prosecuted for a criminal offence. Your visa may also be cancelled and, if so, you will be refused entry into Australia and you may not be able to return to Australia for up to three years."
