Pollyana

So you didn't mention the stuff I put in YOUR bag, and more than I mentioned the fact that 80% of MY luggage 3 weeks later was actually yours ??

Bernieboy

Ssssch there are people on BE who would happily turn you in

Pollyana

EVen with the new policy of making people walk the plank instead of a mere ban?

Sushimania

We have 4-5 pieces of genuine Chinese antique furniture. Upon close inspection, you would be able to see old untreated wood underneath (with bits on it - not sure what they are ). Would custom give us any problem?

Rainydaze

You can't bring animal products - bones, fur, feathers, etc.

Japonica

No kidding. I still think it's odd they didn't open the box marked "shoes" but searched all the photos. Strange.

Japonica

Actually you can, if it's done properly. I brought feathers, but they have to be absolutely clean without a speck of skin on them and if they belong to a species covered by CITES, well, you need all your permits (took me about 4 months alone to organize the import and export permits).

Rainydaze

This is why I left my porcupine quills at home

Japonica

I actually brought moose-hair tufted earrings and fish scale ones...I bought them in the Yukon years ago and wasn't leaving them behind. Both made it through fine.

spottydog

A friends recently had their shipment arrive, Customs advised there was a single shoe that needed cleaning (cheaper to clean that to destroy).

The rest of the shipment has now been unpacked and there is no sign of a shoe without its mate or a missing pair. To top it all the cleaners have lost the shoe they cleaned so she has no idea what it was (but has still had to pay her $60!)

diitbrown

We had the contents of our house shipped over to Perth, including our gorgeous massive Christmas tree with FAKE cones on it!! AQIS called us to say that the tree had these cones on it. After me explaining that they where FAKE, they stated that they where still not allowed to clear them. So, I told them to take them off and destroy them.

The container arrived a few weeks later. All was well until a few months later before Christmas I searched the house top to bottom for my tree (which was in a large box with the lights and decorations. I thought my OH had put it in the shed with all the other stuff.

I phoned AQIS and they said that they had destroyed the whole box...apparently because they don't have the time to be specific!

I was gutted and it ruined my first Christmas here which is bad enough with your family over in the UK!

Di X

Deancm

English Marmite? Where? I haven't seen it. Just the Australian Marmite which tastes like total shite!

moneypenny20

Don't know, I don't eat it, I'm a Vegemite person but I thought My Mate was the same and you get it in the British shops so it's available surely?

elice_in_oz

It's called Our Mate and can be found in some Coles and most of the British food stores. Only reason they call it Our Mate is because Sanitarium who makes Marmite in Oz threatened the importers with a law suit if they imported it under the Marmite name. It's expensive though.

donna

A friend has a big elephant that her grandparents brought over from india over 50 years ago,it has ivory tusks and is made from coconut wood.Shes been told no chance of getting it in,want to do reckon?its a family heirloom and would be a shame to have to leave it.