Australia has some of the strictest biosecurity laws in the world — and food is the primary enforcement target. Getting this wrong at the airport means fines starting from $630 AUD for undeclared items, and up to $2,664 AUD for deliberate violations. In serious cases, criminal prosecution.
This is not a bureaucratic formality. Australia is an island continent with unique ecosystems that have no immunity to many diseases, pests, and pathogens carried in food. The rules exist because foot-and-mouth disease, African swine fever, and various fruit flies can devastate Australian agriculture.
Here’s the practical guide for travellers arriving from the UK, Europe, or anywhere else.
Foods That Are Always Prohibited
Meat and meat products — This is the biggest category. You cannot bring fresh, dried, cured, or cooked meat from most countries without a permit. This includes:
- Salami, prosciutto, chorizo, and other cured meats
- Tinned meat products from many countries
- Jerky and dried meat snacks
- Any meat-filled pastries (pork pies, Scotch eggs — yes, really)
Fruits and vegetables (fresh) — Fresh produce is almost universally prohibited. This includes:
- Fresh fruit (including items like apples, oranges, grapes)
- Fresh vegetables of any kind
- Salads purchased on the plane
Eggs and egg products — Fresh eggs cannot be brought in. Some commercial egg products in hermetically sealed containers from approved countries may be allowed — check the DAFF database before packing.
Seeds and plant material — Any seeds, whether for planting or eating, require permits and phytosanitary certificates in most cases.
Source: Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, bringing food into Australia guidance (current as of 2025).
Foods That Are Conditionally Permitted
Some foods are allowed if they meet specific conditions:
Commercially prepared and packaged foods — Many shelf-stable packaged goods (chocolate, biscuits, crisps, dried pasta, tinned goods without meat) from approved countries are permitted if they are commercially manufactured and in original sealed packaging. Homemade items are almost always prohibited.
Dairy and cheese — Hard, commercially packaged cheeses from some approved countries may be allowed. Soft cheeses, fresh cheeses, and dairy products without commercial certification are typically prohibited.
Honey — Honey is prohibited from most countries due to the risk of American foulbrood disease. Small quantities of commercially sealed honey from some countries may be allowed — check DAFF’s Biosecurity Import Conditions (BICON) database.
Nuts — Commercial packaged nuts in sealed packaging are generally permitted. Unshelled nuts or nuts in natural material packaging may be prohibited.
What You Must Declare
Everything. If you’re in doubt, declare it. The declaration card on your flight asks you to tick “Yes” if you’re carrying any food. Ticking “Yes” is not an admission of wrongdoing — it triggers an inspection. Customs officers will assess on the spot and often allow items through or dispose of them at the border. What gets people fined is ticking “No” when they have prohibited items.
Australia uses detector dogs at international airports and X-ray screening of all luggage. The dogs are specifically trained for biosecurity items and are highly effective.
UK-Specific Items to Know About
UK travellers commonly arrive with items they assume are fine:
- Marmite (original yeast extract): Commercially packaged Marmite in sealed glass jars is generally permitted as a processed food product.
- Cadbury chocolate and British biscuits: Permitted in commercial packaging.
- Pork pies, sausage rolls, pasties: Prohibited due to meat content.
- British cheese (Cheddar, Stilton, etc.): Hard commercially packaged cheeses may be permitted but soft cheeses are typically not. Stilton is a grey area — declare and let the officer decide.
- Scottish salmon (smoked): Commercially packaged vacuum-sealed smoked salmon is sometimes permitted from approved countries. Check BICON.
The Penalty Is Real
Australian Border Force fines for failing to declare biosecurity items start at $630 AUD (approximately £315). Repeat offences or deliberate concealment carry criminal penalties of up to $2,664 AUD or prosecution under the Biosecurity Act 2015.
The officers at Melbourne Airport, Sydney Airport, and other international ports are professional and not hostile — but they are thorough and they do fine people. Tourists who say “I didn’t know” are usually let off with a warning on first offence if the item is minor and surrendered willingly. Tourists who lie on the declaration card get fined.
Source: Australian Border Force, Biosecurity Import Conditions — penalty schedule 2025.
Practical Advice
- Don’t try to bring meat products from the UK — it’s not worth the risk
- Commercial packaged confectionery is fine — bring as much Cadbury as you like
- When in doubt, declare it — tick “Yes” on the form and let the officer decide
- Check BICON before you pack — the DAFF database lets you search specific food items by country of origin before your trip
- Eat perishables on the plane — if you have cheese or fruit for the journey, finish it before landing
For what to bring that IS permitted, see What Not to Bring Into Australia From the UK for the broader customs guide.
