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A 20-year-old Spanish tourist is given a huge fine and sent for trying to bring pork belly and goat cheese into Australia, as sanctions rise.
- Tourist had visa canceled and fined $3,300 for unreported pork and cheese
- He had arrived at Perth airport last Tuesday but failed to declare the food.
- The government said it would strengthen biosafety laws to stop the spread of disease
A Spanish traveler has become the first person to be fined under strengthened biosecurity laws after failing to declare meat and cheese in their luggage.
The 20-year-old man had his visa canceled and he was fined $3,300 for bringing more than a kilogram of undeclared raw pork and cheese.
The man was detained at Perth airport last Tuesday when 275g of non-commercial pork belly, 665g of non-commercial pork and some 300g of goat cheese went undeclared in his luggage.
The Albanian government announced in October that it would increase infringement amounts for people caught with prohibited items to prevent diseases and pests from entering and establishing in Australia.
Previously, the man would have had his visa revoked and he would have been fined $2,664.
Travelers whose visas are canceled are kicked out of Australia on the first available flight and may face a three-year exclusionary period before they can reapply.
A 20-year-old Spaniard had his visa canceled and was fined $3,300 for bringing more than a kilogram of undeclared raw pork and cheese into Australia
Agriculture Minister Murray Watt told the AAP that the new laws will not deter travelers from coming to Australia.
“I think the vast majority of tourists do the right thing and declare biosecurity risk items when they arrive and that’s what this guy didn’t do,” he said.
“If you had declared those products, other measures would have been taken, but the problem was that you did not declare them.
“We are serious about keeping foot-and-mouth disease and other diseases out of the country and travelers should remember that when trying to enter Australia.”
Senator Watt asked international travelers to think carefully about their passenger statements and report any questions.
Agriculture Minister Murray Watt criticized the tourist for bringing the meat.
It comes as the agriculture department issued a warning about the Lunar New Year beginning on Sunday.
The department’s Dr. Chris Locke said Lunar New Year gifts, which are often food packages, could be stopped at the border.
“Unfortunately, there are some traditional Lunar New Year gifts that could introduce pests and diseases to Australia,” Dr Locke said.
“We often see items at the border that contain pork, fruit, plants, herbs, and eggs. Items like these could present a high risk of introducing pests and diseases.’
It has been estimated that an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in Australia cost the economy more than $80 billion over 10 years.
Those who do not declare biosecurity risk items at the border face fines of up to $5,500 and the cancellation of their visa.