Great, then declare it and there shouldn’t be any problem. Where the problem comes in is people not declaring it. If it’s hidden somewhere in their luggage or on their person how is anyone supposed to know that?
Granted it is harsh in this case which I already said but customs has no interest in letting people skirt the rules just because.
Never been in an aussie airport so I’ll take your word for it. Still though having to declare a sandwich is beyond absurd. I get the reasoning for raw foodstuffs but a cooked chicken sandwich isn’t carrying anything that granny couldn’t also just be carrying in her body.
You might find it absurd, but it is quite common. The same rules about cooked food now apply, for example when travelling from the UK to France - that sandwich could have been seized when travelling into Europe - there were some travellers who were caught out travelling to France following Brexit. https://food.ec.europa.eu/animals/animal-products-movements/personal-imports_en
And you are told in a dozen languages even before stepping out of the plane. But everyone in this thread who’s never crossed a border think you can just go to other countries and do the fuck you want because they know better
Perhaps anyone listening to the plane announcements, looks at any one of the multitude of signs on arrival, or anyone (everyone) who fills out the incoming passenger card? It’s not at all unclear what you have to do when you’re there. They make it clear to declare everything at multiple points. There is no penalty for declaring something even if it’s not allowed in.
On the first side of the incoming passenger card, half of it is taken up by the question:
They found it after they went through her backpack.
Extra info: if you declare everything, even if it’s something that’s definitely not allowed, you will not get into any trouble. I’m talking about food and stuff not drugs or guns. They just don’t want people to not be declaring things that then slip through without inspection. That’s why there’s a heavy fine if they have to “catch” you. A lot of things are okay’d to be brought in after inspection.
They do “random searches” just like any other country but I find it more likely in this situation that they saw something on the scanner which prompted them to search the bag. Even if you compare the process to the USA it’s pretty much identical. You still have to declare everything except the USA has even steeper fines than Australia.
Random searches are a standard part of going through the green channel in most countries. There are also sniffer dogs. Several years ago I watched a lady get stopped because a softer dog had detected an apple in a Tupperware box in her luggage.
Great, then declare it and there shouldn’t be any problem. Where the problem comes in is people not declaring it. If it’s hidden somewhere in their luggage or on their person how is anyone supposed to know that?
Granted it is harsh in this case which I already said but customs has no interest in letting people skirt the rules just because.
Who in their right mind would think they need to declare a sandwich?
The people who see the massive signs all the way through the arrival hall with pictures of stuff like sandwiches. Seriously, you can’t miss them
Never been in an aussie airport so I’ll take your word for it. Still though having to declare a sandwich is beyond absurd. I get the reasoning for raw foodstuffs but a cooked chicken sandwich isn’t carrying anything that granny couldn’t also just be carrying in her body.
You might find it absurd, but it is quite common. The same rules about cooked food now apply, for example when travelling from the UK to France - that sandwich could have been seized when travelling into Europe - there were some travellers who were caught out travelling to France following Brexit. https://food.ec.europa.eu/animals/animal-products-movements/personal-imports_en
And the same in the US except with ever larger fines than AU https://www.cbp.gov/travel/international-visitors/agricultural-items
The US only cares about uncooked food: meat, fruit, etc. I’ve personally declared Reese’s peanut butter cups, as a joke. They look at you like this:
Uncooked foods, and more specifically things with seeds. A primary concern is about new species being introduced and becoming invasive.
… and canned meat and soup, if you look at the regulations-particularly beef
And you are told in a dozen languages even before stepping out of the plane. But everyone in this thread who’s never crossed a border think you can just go to other countries and do the fuck you want because they know better
Perhaps anyone listening to the plane announcements, looks at any one of the multitude of signs on arrival, or anyone (everyone) who fills out the incoming passenger card? It’s not at all unclear what you have to do when you’re there. They make it clear to declare everything at multiple points. There is no penalty for declaring something even if it’s not allowed in.
On the first side of the incoming passenger card, half of it is taken up by the question:
The tourists are all made of raw meat!
And the same applies! You have to be declared. If you try and smuggle a human in there’s probably steep fines associated if you’re caught.
Don’t forget to declare your half-eaten bag of airplane peanuts as well.
You can either declare them or put them in the bio security bins in arrivals.
Don’t forget to declare any stuff that might get trapped on your shoes. Iirc people have been jailed for having “marijuana traces” on them.
EDIT: not sure why people are voting down but this actually happened: https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=18842015
Real talk, how did they find it if she didn’t ‘declare’ it?
They found it after they went through her backpack.
Extra info: if you declare everything, even if it’s something that’s definitely not allowed, you will not get into any trouble. I’m talking about food and stuff not drugs or guns. They just don’t want people to not be declaring things that then slip through without inspection. That’s why there’s a heavy fine if they have to “catch” you. A lot of things are okay’d to be brought in after inspection.
How’d they find it in her backpack?
Do they just search people’s luggage in addition to having them ‘declare’ things?
They do “random searches” just like any other country but I find it more likely in this situation that they saw something on the scanner which prompted them to search the bag. Even if you compare the process to the USA it’s pretty much identical. You still have to declare everything except the USA has even steeper fines than Australia.
Random searches are a standard part of going through the green channel in most countries. There are also sniffer dogs. Several years ago I watched a lady get stopped because a softer dog had detected an apple in a Tupperware box in her luggage.
Everyone is searched going through customs. There are also dogs trained to sniff out everything.
I hope the dog got to eat the sandwich.