Having travelled to Oz a couple of times myself already and having heard other people's stories, I know they are very strict about bringing in certain items, particularly food. I was rather worried about having to hand in baby's formula powder to the customs people when landing in Perth. The thought of being left stranded with no formula and a hungry baby was not an attractive one. Surely to goodness, I thought, they wouldn't make me turf baby's formula? So I did some research and this is the reply I got from the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service Airports Program (I also included a question on pearls as I assumed they would also be regarded with suspicion being of an organic nature - I'm a beading and jewellery nut at present):
'Thank you for your enquiry about bringing baby formula and freshwater pearls into Australia as part of your personal baggage. The conditions for bringing these items into Australia as part of your personal baggage are:
Foods (including infant formula & cereal) for infants may be imported from any country provided the products are commercially prepared and packaged and are for the consumption of the accompanied infant. A single opened can or tin of milk-based foods for infants is allowed when accompanying an infant, however all other cans/tins must be unopened. No more than 10 kilograms or 10 litres of infant formula can be brought into Australia.
If the infant formula does not meet the above import conditions the item must be re-exported from Australia or destroyed. Re-export of the item must be paid for by the importer.
There is no quarantine restriction with pearls as long as they are clean and free of other quarantine risk material.
Once passengers arrive in Australia, they are required to complete an Incoming Passenger Card (IPC). On the IPC, they must decl