Did you know a bouquet of flowers could lead to a not-so-pretty bloom: an outbreak of plant pests or diseases?
International travellers arriving in Australia can bring fresh cut flowers and foliage as long as they’re declared. This means they’re inspected for exotic pests and diseases by biosecurity officers at international airports and seaports and declaring them won’t cost you dearly in penalties.
If you have fresh cut flowers or foliage with you on arrival, tick Yes to question 7 about plants on your Incoming Passenger Card. Your flowers and foliage will be inspected for signs of pests and diseases and returned to you if cleared by a biosecurity officer. A treatment may be required for some flowers or foliage.
Failure to declare plant material, could cost you hundreds or even thousands of dollars. These penalties help keep Australia free of biosecurity risks that could harm our world-class agriculture industries.
If you’re unsure about items you’re carrying, it’s better to declare them. Declaring truthfully avoids all penalties – even if it turns out something in your luggage cannot enter Australia.
Find out more about bringing cut flowers and foliage, and what you must declare when travelling to Australia.