As the festive season draws near, the Australian Border Force (ABF) reminds shoppers buying gifts from overseas to be aware of what can and cannot be imported into Australia.
Every year ABF officers seize thousands of prohibited goods at the border, from counterfeit cosmetics and power tools to imitation firearms, drugs, butterfly knives, karambits, nunchakus, laser pointers and more.
Acting Assistant Secretary Customs and Trade Policy, Suzanne Ford, said the purpose of tight controls is to ensure goods imported into Australia are not harmful to the community.
“This holiday season, remember online counterfeit goods can be dangerous to you, your family and your friends,” A/g Assistant Secretary Ford said.
“Fake cosmetics with harmful ingredients, electronic accessories and power tools may be received joyously, but that joy could soon fade if those gifts lead to an injury or worse.
“Believe it or not, some toys purchased online from overseas can be coated with toxic materials such as lead or mercury and are prohibited. Always purchase from a reputable site and, of course, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.”
In 2021-22, ABF officers inspected more than 35 million international mail items and 54,000 sea cargo consignments imported into Australia to check for prohibited goods.
“If we detect a prohibited item it will be seized at the border, meaning you will simply be wasting your money and we don’t want to see that, especially at this time of year,” Ms Ford said.
The ABF’s website has a detailed list of items that are prohibited in Australia to either import or export.
