Many of the rules relating to COVID-19 have been relaxed for people that move around Australia between the different territories and states. However, the rules still remain when it comes to moving plant products and plants between territories and states to prevent diseases and pests from spreading.
If you want to learn more about what you can’t bring to South Australia on your next caravan holiday, keep reading today’s blog article.
What Not To Bring
If you are embarking on a caravan holiday, you might be planning to pack food before the trip. However, it is important to know that you should not be packing vegetables or fruit in your caravan, especially if you are planning to cross state borders. You might be in for a surprise when you are asked to surrender your produce, especially if it is on the banned list.
It is recommended to only purchase what you will need for the duration that you plan to be in an area or anything that you know you can take home with you. You can shop locally once you have arrived at your holiday destination. This can help you avoid fines, and you can also support the local businesses within the Empty Esky campaign in support of bushfire recovery.
There are quarantine and biosecurity zones in territories and states where particular diseases and pests are present. Examples of these include the Citrus Mites in NSW, Tomato Potato Psyllid close to Perth, WA, and Phylloxera in parts of Victoria and NSW. Other offenders include Queensland Fruit Flies present in NT and the East Coast states, but not South Australia, Tasmania, or WA.
Particular crops are growing in certain areas and the government wants to keep these diseases and pests out. Examples of these include the potato growing-zones in WA, Victoria, and NSW.
South Australia has a set of restrictions in place when it comes to moving the following within and into the area:
- Plants
- Plant-related products
- Fruiting vegetables
- Fruit
As of 4 January 2019, anyone caught with fruiting vegetables or fruit (illegally) at the Yamba Quarantine Station will be faced with a fine. A zero-tolerance approach is common at most quarantine roadblock operations randomly set up across South Australia.
Within South Australia
Vegetables and fruit that are classified as “at risk” from Fruit Fly should not be travelling with you when you plan a caravan trip into the Riverland. In an effort to protect the growers in the Riverland, the “bring a receipt” rule is not something that is still recognised. You will risk a fine if you are stopped and caught with these vegetables and fruit:
- Apple
- Apricot
- Avocado
- Banana
- Blackberry
- Blueberry
- Capsicum
- Cherry
- Chilli
- Cumquat
- Date
- Eggplant
- Fig
- Grape
- Grapefruit
- Kiwifruit
- Lemon
- Lime
- Mandarin
- Mango
- Mulberry
- Nectarine
- Olive
- Orange
- Papaya
- Passionfruit
- Pawpaw
- Peach
- Pear
- Plum
- Pomegranate
- Quince
- Raspberry
- Strawberry
- Tomato
Into South Australia
Travellers should know about all the quarantine restrictions when they plan to move plant material or plants across any of the state borders. Before packing and heading out for your holiday in South Australia, check the Australian Interstate Quarantine website. The Traveller’s Guide will give you the information that you need on what you can’t and can take with you. Rules and restrictions can change, so make sure you have checked on the site before planning your trip.
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