Highlights
- Australia issues warning to families expecting gifts and delicacies ahead of Rakhi
- Families must inform their relatives that some articles cannot be mailed into Australia
- "There is an increased risk of items of biosecurity concern arriving through the mail ahead of Rakhi"
Every year, around 80,000 letters and parcels that arrive into the country's mail centres are intercepted by the Australian Border Force for posing a potential risk to the country's ecosystem.
The Department of Agriculture claims that a vast majority of these items are usually intercepted ahead of religious and culturally-significant events and festivals that are celebrated by people living in Australia with their loved ones around the globe.
'Biosecurity warning ahead of Rakhi'
One such occasion is the festival of Rakhi also known as Rakhri or Raksha Bandhan - an annual tradition celebrated largely in the Indian subcontinent that involves sisters tying a traditional thread (a rakhi) around their brother’s wrist for ritual protection, which is often combined with the siblings exchanging gifts and delicacies.
Many families based in Australia who celebrate the festival but are living away from their siblings receive these items in the mail, some of which the Department of Agriculture claims are not permitted to be parcelled into Australia, such as the traditional rakhi threads made of seeds or flowers or sweets containing milk.
Rakhri or Rakhi - a festival of love between brothers and sisters Source: rakshabandhanhub
“In the lead up to cultural events, such as Rakhi, there are particular items that might be sent to Australia which will be intercepted at mail centres. This includes gifts and delicacies made from seeds, plant or animal material, which can all pose a biosecurity risk,” she said.
All items containing biosecurity risk are assessed by the Department’s officers using X-rays, detector dogs and manual inspection. And articles that are deemed risky or classified as prohibited goods are either exported back to the sender or in some cases, even destroyed.
Ms O’Connell warned that families expecting such articles must ensure senders are aware of the list of permitted items before they are parcelled to avoid delays, extra costs or loss of goods.
“If you are expecting gifts or delicacies this year, make sure you do your biosecurity research and help us spread awareness of Australia’s biosecurity conditions. This will help ensure gifts and delicacies arrive on time. You will also be helping safeguard Australia from a range of deadly biosecurity pest and disease risks,” she added.
Here’s a list of Rakhi gifts that CAN’T be mailed into Australia:
The Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment has issued a warning to families expecting gifts and delicacies from overseas ahead of Rakhi. Source: Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment
• Rakhi threads made with seeds or flowers
• Traditional Indian sweets (mithai) which contain milk, such as barfi, mysore pak, gulab jamun, rasgulla, pedas or soan-papdi
• Grains and dried fruits.
Here’s a list of Rakhi gifts that CAN be mailed into Australia:
• Cotton Rakhi threads with plastic, fabric, gold or silver beads
• Gold or silver coins
• Personalised photo items
• Artificial flowers.
Similar warnings are also sounded by the Department ahead Diwali, Chinese New Year and Mid-Autumn Moon Festival. Click for more information:
People in Australia must stay at least 1.5 metres away from others. Check your state’s restrictions on gathering limits.
If you are experiencing cold or flu symptoms, stay home and arrange a test by calling your doctor or contact the Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080.
