Bringing shrink-wrapped cheese through Australian Customs?
I have purchased cheese in France and it is shrink wrapped. Do I have to declare the cheese to customs or not?
Best Answer
The question on the landing card is:
Are you bringing into Australia:
[…]
- Meat, poultry, fish, seafood, eggs, dairy, fruit, vegetables?
This is pretty broad and definitely includes cheese. Also, as the card implies, you should always check “yes” and/or seek advice from customs officials if you are unsure (that's true everywhere). At the end of the day, I suspect cheese (unlike vegetables or meat) should be OK but failing to declare it could bring further trouble if it isn't.
Whether you are allowed to keep it might however depend on the type of cheese (from raw or pasteurised milk, shelf-stable or refrigerated), maybe someone else will be able to provide more details on that.
Pictures about "Bringing shrink-wrapped cheese through Australian Customs?"
Can I bring cheese into Australia?
Cheese, butter, and other dairy products are permitted into Australia for personal use if the product is: commercially prepared and packaged. produced in an approved FMD-free country (the product label must list the country of origin) imported in an amount up to 10 kilograms or 10 litres.What are you not allowed to take into Australia?
Do not bring or send:- bark or straw based goods.
- fresh or dried conifer.
- fresh fruit and vegetables.
- fresh or dried holly.
- fresh or dried mistletoe.
- hampers (containing certain food, meat or plant material)
- pine cones.
- potpourri.
What you need to declare at Australian Customs?
When entering Australia from overseas, you must declare if you are carrying any of the items in this list: Prohibited or restricted goods including medicines, steroids, illegal pornography, firearms weapons or illicit drugs.What foods can I take into Australia?
Cheese, butter, and other dairy products are permitted into Australia for personal use if the product is:- commercially prepared and packaged.
- produced in an approved FMD-free country (the product label must list the country of origin)
- imported in an amount up to 10 kilograms or 10 litres.
- for human consumption only.
Peelwrap® Easy Open of Shrink-Wrapped Cheese
More answers regarding bringing shrink-wrapped cheese through Australian Customs?
Answer 2
As others have mentioned, you will certainly need to declare it.
France is on the Department of Agriculture FMD approved country list, which means the cheese should be OK to bring in, as long as it is less than 10kg, commercially prepared and packaged and intended for human consumption. Source
From the information I could find, the only sticking point might be how well your cheese is wrapped.
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: Tim Samuel, Tim Samuel, Katerina Holmes, Erik Mclean