Eat your fruit before crossing Australian state boundaries
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325654)
Rockingham, Australia
July 14, 2018 8:06am CST
The various Australian states differ in their laws regarding the transportation of goods between their borders. We recently came from Victoria into South Australia and had to stop at the border while roadblock staff checked our car and caravan for fruit and vegetables. When we saw the warning signs about importation of fruit and vegetables, we consumed our last banana and gave up the banana. We admitted to having one potato but were allowed to keep that as there was no soil on it. Handing over fruit and vegetables at this checkpoint would not incur a fine but trying to smuggle fruit in is a definite no-no.
The lady was very polite but checked out the caravan including the fridge and even had Vince open an ice-cream container which held some chocolate slice. We met with the same rigmarole coming across from Western Australia and also when we bordered the ferry for Tasmania.
No-one with any sense would resent these checks as they are keeping our products free of various diseases. For instance, South Australian orchards are free of fruit fly whereas West Australian orchards aren’t.
When we go back into Western Australia, we will not be able to take any plant material with us. Does your country have restrictions on the movement of various products?
27 people like this
26 responses
@JudyEv (325654)
• Rockingham, Australia
20 Jul 18
It might be but we saw them put it straight in a bin so maybe they don't. Or maybe they just get too much to consume themselves.
@hereandthere (45651)
• Philippines
14 Jul 18
so each state is like entering a different country
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118427)
• Gainesville, Florida
22 Jul 18
Many of the states in the US have restrictions on fruit and vegetables, especially citrus, given that the un-curable citrus greening disease is wiping out our citrus crops.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118427)
• Gainesville, Florida
29 Jul 18
@JudyEv Citrus greening is slowly wiping out the citrus industry. Not just in the United States, but in many citrus growing countries in South America as well. So far, scientists and researchers have not been able to find a way to stop it or even slow it down. It just keeps spreading. I hope they find a cure or something soon, because in Florida the citrus industry is probably our top economic driver after tourism.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (325654)
• Rockingham, Australia
31 Jul 18
@moffittjc Something like this can be a great worry. I'm sure they are aiming a lot of research dollars at finding a cure.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (325654)
• Rockingham, Australia
20 Jul 18
They don't mess around and can be very officious sometimes.
@sueznewz2 (10409)
• Alicante, Spain
18 Jul 18
I think they dont mind .... so long as they are clean and do not have soil on them.
1 person likes this
@sueznewz2 (10409)
• Alicante, Spain
21 Jul 18
@JudyEv ooohhh that is strict... they are being very careful 
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325654)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 Jul 18
@sueznewz2 I guess it could mean millions to horticulturalists and farmers.
@Inlemay (17714)
• South Africa
16 Jul 18
I know that Australia is the worst when it comes to this. My friend had an apple in her bag from Jozi that she thought she would eat in the air before landing. Well, they just tossed it on her arrival in Perth and then she was subject to a full search as the customs were not taking any chances of her smuggling in any other fruits or seeds, or wood, or tea leaves, etc, etc, etc
1 person likes this
@responsiveme (22926)
• India
15 Jul 18
I understand their point and it is good that the laws are strict.
The Andaman islands restrict taking away sea shells and other marine things that you may collect...I saw many people having to leave their find at the airport counter
The peaches look perfect . Glad you are on your travels again with the van fixed
1 person likes this
@Jessabuma (31700)
• Baguio, Philippines
14 Jul 18
I am not sure about that. I love eating fruits..
1 person likes this
@Jessabuma (31700)
• Baguio, Philippines
20 Jul 18
@JudyEv yes that's right, they're healthy foods also
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
14 Jul 18
We have restrictions on transporting firewood from state to state. There are diseases and bugs that could cause problems to local forests.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325654)
• Rockingham, Australia
20 Jul 18
That's interesting. No firewood - I wouldn't have picked that as an issue.
@GardenGerty (157546)
• United States
14 Jul 18
Yes, or at least I know they did years ago. I think it was Arizona you could not bring plant materials into. I would have thought it was California, but that is not how I am remembering it. I could not tell you if it is still in effect or not.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325654)
• Rockingham, Australia
20 Jul 18
West Australia is lucky that it is so isolated as we are free of quite a few issues that plague other states.
@allknowing (130066)
• India
14 Jul 18
We have this rule when we travel abroad. We have to get a quarantine certificate
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (62096)
• United States
15 Jul 18
I never knew there were restrictions in the US until I drove west in 1983. I had to stop at the border at Arizona and again at California for produce questions.
1 person likes this
@AliCanary (3045)
•
14 Jul 18
That's so odd! I knew about not taking plants and produce into other countries, but not into other states! I couldn't imagine having to surrender my potatoes at the border to Virginia, lol
1 person likes this
@Starmaiden (9311)
• Canada
14 Jul 18
Since Australia is indeed a continent, the various regions would be considered like separate countries so I guess that makes sense.
There are no restrictions like that in Canada that I know of. 
1 person likes this
