Expecting Diwali gifts from India? Receiving banned goods can result in possible criminal prosecution, warns government

Did you know traditional Indian sweets sent from India are considered a biosecurity threat in Australia? If you are expecting a parcel with Diwali goodies from India this year, take a look at what is allowed and what is not.

Higher penalties for breaching Australia's biosecurity rules. Source: Supplied by Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment

Highlights

The parcel must correctly list the contents
Indian sweets, dairy products, dried fruit and nuts not allowed
Banned items may be destroyed at the border or need treatment at the receiver’s expense

The Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment wants members of the Indian community expecting special Diwali-related gifts which many times includes sweets to ensure their relatives are aware of Australia’s strict biosecurity laws.

“Tell your friends and family overseas not to send you gifts containing biosecurity risk items, such as Indian sweets (mithai) like barfi, ras malai and pedas, products containing dairy, fresh and dried fruit, nuts, seeds, herbs, spices, tea, products containing meat ingredients, plants, flowers and plant material,” the spokesperson of the Department told SBS Hindi.

“If you are expecting to receive Diwali gifts through the mail, make sure your family and friends correctly list the contents of all mail articles and fill out any postal declaration labels or forms,” the spokesperson said.

Tell your friends and family overseas not to send you gifts containing biosecurity risk items, such as Indian sweets (mithai) like barfi, ras malai and pedas. Source: Getty Images

All parcels arriving in Australia are assessed by the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment biosecurity officers using X–rays, detector dogs and manual inspection.

Any packages or luggage containing biosecurity risk goods are opened and inspected by these biosecurity officers.

Items that pose an unacceptable biosecurity risk will be destroyed at the border, the Department warns.

“Biosecurity risk items sent via mail that do not meet import conditions are either exported back to the sender or destroyed, to ensure they do not harm Australia’s agriculture or environment,” the spokesperson said.

Diwali in Australia: What you can and cannot do with COVID-19 restrictions

If the parcel is found to breach Australia’s biosecurity condition, it could also lead to criminal prosecution.

“In relation to penalties for mail recipients, if you are found to breach Australia’s biosecurity conditions, you can be subject to an investigation and possible criminal prosecution,” the department spokesperson warned.

The other alternative is to pay for the treatment of the goods.

“If your goods require treatment, you will be given the option to pay for the treatment. It may take several weeks. Whilst each good is assessed on an individual basis, plants, flowers and plant material are likely to require treatment at the recipient’s expense ($75 per item),” the spokesperson said.

The Department though clarified that alternative gift ideas such as fabric, gold or silver beads and coins, personalised photo items and artificial flowers do not pose a biosecurity risk.