Declaring items at the airport.
 

I am just wondering on how many people deliberately bring something to Australia when flying in and having some nuts/food or whatever that needs declaring to pass through airport checks quicker? A hell of a lot of people I know do this just wondered if anyone here does it and is it worth it?

Re: Declaring items at the airport.
 

IMO yes, it's worth it.

From memory (the was a linked document on here about 7 years ago), even packets of sweets and chewing gum is supposed to be declared. Home made cake works well in terms of ensuring you go through the "declaration" line. :)

Re: Declaring items at the airport.
 

If you have nuts, declare them and hand them over. They will not be allowed in. Don't even think about not declaring, its not worth it.

I always have a small mountain of food with me, crisps, sweets etc, I make a list, show it to the AQIS guys and mutter something about "ïts the usual pommy food stuff" - that usually gets a laugh now, and a wave through without the bags being X Rayed (this is Brisbane, relatively quiet, very early morning).

Re: Declaring items at the airport.
 

Yep, everything, even one packet of polos has to be declared.

Re: Declaring items at the airport.
 

Declare EVERYTHING.. They have scanners that show everything up... Dont you watch border patrol/control/police.... Or whatever that crap show is that I dont watch?????

In fact... If you make lists and itemise everything in great detail... And start unpacking everything to show them they'll probably waive you through quicker than if you actually DO have nothing to declare....

We get Dry Roast peanuts brought over... They are always declared and have never been confiscated.... I imagine most aussies dont know what they taste like... If they did they would deffo be having them off us.....

Re: Declaring items at the airport.
 

That it why I asked the question. I know it would be absolutly stupid to have something and not declare it. I am arriving at Perth next Thursday and will be deliberately bringing a packet of crisps/chocolate bar to declare just so I get through the checks/nothing to declare line quicker. I arrive at 6.25am so it will be quite anyway I hope.

Re: Declaring items at the airport.
 

Take anything you want mate,they'll be too busy confiscating from the asian mob to bother with you;)

Re: Declaring items at the airport.
 

I did the list thing and we were just waved through - that was Sydney, about 4 flights had landed together and it was really busy :)

Re: Declaring items at the airport.
 

My brother was very disappointed when he came to visit. I had warned him to declare the Bisto he was bringing us. So he duly filled out the form and went through the declare channel. They really weren't interested. He told everyone he saw repeatedly and my sister in law said she started getting really embarrassed when he started adding in "but it's a beef product.......from the UK!" really loudly.

We got our Bisto but I think he'd have been more satisfied if they'd interrogated him or frisked him or summat.

Re: Declaring items at the airport.
 

Before you could buy it here, I tried to bring in a jar of Hellmanns mayonnaise but had it confiscated because of the egg content. :frown:

(Still don't know why the egg content of the Hellmanns in the supermarket is different to the egg content of the one I tried to bring, but anyway...)

I didn't realize it was was quicker to pass through the declare queue... I've always done it ... but will now make sure I do. :thumbup:

Re: Declaring items at the airport.
 

always declare. especially the organic items (wooden articles, food, seeds, tea) and bundles of cash including foreign currency
(if exceeds A$10k equiv). there are sniffer dogs and xray machines and physical
inspection of baggage.

also starting 1 sept. the tobacco allowance will
decrease to 50 pieces.

the declaration is a legal document. $220 on the spot fine or even face prosecution.

search "border security" on youtube.

Re: Declaring items at the airport.
 

eggs are of high quarantine risk for avian influenza despite being processed into packaged food products.

Re: Declaring items at the airport.
 

Came in 4 weeks ago, had load of food for the kids on the plane they didn't eat so declared that plus our prescriptions. Was very disappointed nothing searched, checked or opened and having watched that border programme not even a sniffer dog!
It was 5 am...
Seriously, declare everything.

Re: Declaring items at the airport.
 

i even declare my panadol.

Re: Declaring items at the airport.
 

Yes, I know eggs (and lots of things) are a problem (and did declare) but don't know why an importer can bring in Hellmanns mayonnaise by the box and joe blow can't bring in his single shop sealed jar. :confused:

Re: Declaring items at the airport.
 

:lol:

I declared that I had once taken panadol.

Re: Declaring items at the airport.
 

Last time we came through we had muesli bars, jam, lollies, panadol etc and declared it all, waved through and away we went.

Re: Declaring items at the airport.
 

Last trip, I said, "the usual Canadian stuff..." to which he raised an eyebrow, and I replied, "You know, Frank's Hot Sauce and decent maple syrup."

Next trip back, hubby has put in a request to bring back that packaged Lipton noodle soup (Dorothy knows what I'm talking about). Get to declare that one too. :p

Re: Declaring items at the airport.
 

Last time back, our flight from Auckland arrived the same time as one from Bali. I recall they gave the Bali folks more than a cursory check and were busy rifling through their bags and holding up all the plant-based souvenirs (woven baskets and mats) for closer inspection...never mind what other interesting things they found.

Re: Declaring items at the airport.
 

:rofl: When my mother was here last year, she apparently made a point of launching into a long lecture with the young fellow questioning her about why tinned pumpkin makes for better pies (I disagree, but she's from a time when canned food ruled the world and so she brought three huge tins of the stuff in her luggage because apparently I need it). The AQIS worker replied, "But we do have pumpkins here in Australia," to which she intoned, "But you haven't got them in cans, that's the problem." :rofl:

He let her through with her stash. I swear those folks working at AQIS must have the best "guess how my day went" stories.

Re: Declaring items at the airport.
 

I never bother declaring food - not that I bring much back, maybe the odd bar of chocolate or crisps in my hand luggage or whatever.

When I came back from trekking in south america I delcared that and they cleaned my walking boots until they were spotless for me :thumbsup:

Re: Declaring items at the airport.
 

You really should declare ANY food. If they decide to xray or search your stuff and find it then you will almost certainly be fined, plus there will be a note on your records to check you carefully in future. Yes its a pain, but tjcking tbat box is less hassle than being caught.

Re: Declaring items at the airport.
 

>>Dont you watch border patrol/control/police.... Or whatever that crap show is that I dont watch?????<<

Compulsive viewing!

I just love it when a Chinese is asked if it's *her* bag - "Yes", whether she packed it - "Yes" - if everything in it is hers - "Yes", if anyone has put anything in it - "No".

Then the bag's opened, full of rotting food, insects, vegetables etc.

"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh" she says - and suddenly doesn't understand English.

Re: Declaring items at the airport.
 

Last trip I brought back about 10 boxes of Crystal Light singles, 2 big bottles of Kraft blue cheese dressing, 2 bottles of Frank's, some Swiss Chalet sauce powder packets, a jar of bacon marmalade, a box of Skor bars and 3 Burnt Almond bars. I was seriously hoping they didn't confiscate my salad dressing or bacon marmalade but when they asked what food I had and I started rattling it all off the guy just rolled his eyes and waved me through before I could say I had the salad dressing or bacon.

I've given my sister a list of stuff to bring me when she comes in November. More Frank's, more Crystal Light, some Coffee Crisp and definitely more Skor bars. :tounge_smile:

Re: Declaring items at the airport.
 

laser pointers and weapons are a big no no

Re: Declaring items at the airport.
 

theres a similar show UK Border Force. they are on the lookout for fake students and lorry clandestines from calais.

Re: Declaring items at the airport.
 

We declared all our things when we came in. I have no idea what happened that day but a load of flights came in at once and the declare line was about 4 times longer than the nothing to declare. I was grumbling to myself the whole way through the queue about people bringing stuff in just to get in the 'shorter' queue. :-o

Re: Declaring items at the airport.
 

If you don't declare something and don't get caught it's worth it. If you do get caught, your definition of "worth it" may be different to others...

Cheers

LG

Re: Declaring items at the airport.
 

He isn't asking if he should declare, he's asking if its worth deliberately bringing something to declare as that queue may well be shorter than the 'nothing to declare' queue.

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Correct!!
But like I say I arrive from Singapore at 6.25am so can't see the airport being very busy anyway.

Re: Declaring items at the airport.
 

You would be incorrect, though. There are 2 flights landing within 10 minutes of each other at that time of day. One from HK at 6:15 and one from SIN at 6:25. Throw in the remnants of the 5:25 from KL and you've got a busy immigration and customs area. And if you're arriving on a Friday there's also the 6:40 from Denpasar.

Re: Declaring items at the airport.
 

Great! Haha. Thanks for the info though!

Re: Declaring items at the airport.
 

Ooops. Shouldn't reply to posts without drinking coffee first.

TBH, I've never had problems getting through AQIS whether I've had stuff to declare or not. Getting through passport control has always been the delay for me.

Cheers

LG

Re: Declaring items at the airport.
 

Hi Guys

I am returning to Oz in Jan.

To be clear - I want to bring in sealed dry roasted nuts in my hold luggage - so just write that on the form and declare and they wont take them off me, have I got that right?

x

Re: Declaring items at the airport.
 

No. As stated earlier in the thread, nuts are not allowed in, they will be confiscated.

(edited to add - if you are lucky and the AQIS person had a good day you might get them through, but generally even the nuts onn a Walnut Whip cause its confiscation)

Re: Declaring items at the airport.
 

Hey Hey Polly they let me in:o

Re: Declaring items at the airport.
 

I guess if it comes to that they let me in as well :rofl:

Re: Declaring items at the airport.
 

Have you any hair left after all that :lol:

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I'm sat here eating dry roasted peanuts brought in from uk... Declared at customs by my niece and nephew..... They brought 6 large bags with them... And the grey nomads always brought them over....

Perhaps they were allowed in coz they don't have dry roast peanuts here so didn't know what they are:confused:


You want some? They're yummy.....

Re: Declaring items at the airport.
 

I love em, and if they get in thats great, don't bank on it though. Nuts are supposed to be banned.
It does depend on who you get, how closely they look at the stuff coming in etc - one of those grey areas like artificial berries on hats :sneaky: and stuff containing dry milk powder. I got hassle this time bringing in sealed supermarket Christmas puddings, do it every year, first time they've argued "no way cos they contain fruit" Supervisor rolled her eyes and waved me through, puddings and all.