Food + agriculture customs
Most countries treat food, plants, animals, and animal-origin products as biosecurity risks regardless of intent or quantity. Categories that look harmless (a piece of fruit, a packet of seeds, a cured ham) routinely trigger seizure and on-the-spot penalties.
High-risk categories
- Meat + dairy — almost always restricted across biosecurity zones.
- Fresh fruit + vegetables — phytosanitary risk; routinely refused.
- Seeds + plants + soil — phytosanitary certificate required at most destinations.
- Wooden items + wood packaging — ISPM-15 treatment required.
- Live animals — pre-arrival permits; separate import process.
- Honey + bee products — disease control.
- Eggs — restricted in most biosecurity zones.
- Fish + seafood — CITES + biosecurity rules.
Indexed food items (18)
Strictest biosecurity destinations
- 🇦🇺 Australia — among the strictest globally.
- 🇳🇿 New Zealand — strict + heavily enforced.
- 🇯🇵 Japan — agricultural product restrictions.
- 🇺🇸 United States — USDA APHIS at every port of entry.