Importing Backcountry Cuisine meals from NZ

[forest]

Can you buy these dehydrated meals online from NZ or will customs grab them.

They are available within Australia in most camping shops so it's not like they are an unknown ?

I don't mind this brand and I can buy them from NZ cheaper than here with free postage if I spend over $99 NZD. I need to buy about 14 packets of the single serve size for Larapinta.
Everytime I look in the local camping shops they only have either all twin serves or not a great range.
I can get the full range online and save a few bob while I'm at it. It's more about meal selection though.

[ninjapuppet]

As long as ingredients are printed, its ok with customs.

I bought a stackload from e-omc if various brands and it got thru. They were about 3.80 AUD on sale for a double pack! Screw paying $15/ packet in local stores.

When campsaver had them sales on, i bought another heap with free shipping back to Australia because it was over $400. Customs opened that package and sealed it up, also leaving a note saying it was inspected.

I still like the backcountry cuisine fish cake meal. Haven't found a replacement for that yet so i happily pay $15 for that one when i see it.

[Rob A]

Why buy 14 single serves? The package sizes are the same and you carry too much trash.
Maybe one single to get you started if you cant take a spare plastic bag for the first cut.

[taswegian]

When you fly into Australia any products with meat get confiscated
I declared some packaged dried fruit and nuts and Customs was excellent.
I had quite a discussion about what could and couldn't be bought in.
They were adamant about the meat content in products.
I would envisage (hope) there'd be consistency across the board.

Even if it's all properly packaged and labelled gives no exemption when it comes to any prohibited product.

But it does seem odd that products do get imported and sold on that one can't walk /fly into the country with.

[Rob A]

When you fly into Australia any products with meat get confiscated
.....

No they dont. Mine have gone in and out several times, inspected, passed. One packet has done three trips.
Maybe theres something in the water down tassie and they use their discretion to p iss you off. Google the import criteria, and the pass customs criteria.

[Pongo]

From what I read when i was researching if I could ship in a few dehy products, meat depends on its country of origin and preparation. Mad cow risk being one of the obvious one they screen for... So UK beef = a no, no; US I think is okay. Happy to be corrected as I'm no customs expert yet... yet

[north-north-west]

You can buy the stuff here, so there is no logical reason you can't import it yourself.

[Strider]

You can buy the stuff here, so there is no logical reason you can't import it yourself.

Try telling that to Cascade Designs

[north-north-west]

You can buy the stuff here, so there is no logical reason you can't import it yourself.

Try telling that to Cascade Designs

I was referring to Customs/Quarantine issues, not asinine manufacturers' rules.

[Strider]

You can buy the stuff here, so there is no logical reason you can't import it yourself.

Try telling that to Cascade Designs

I was referring to Customs/Quarantine issues, not asinine manufacturers' rules.

Of course.

I was always under the impression that anything properly packaged was good to go.

[forest]

I've put the order in now. We shall see. I'll report back once it either has or hasn't arrived.....

[Lizzy]

This website allows you to look up import requirements- this is an example of uncooked red meat from NZ.
http://www.aqis.gov.au/icon32/asp/ex_ca ... essionID=0
Having previously worked for AQIS the guidelines can be confusing- (they may have changed snce then) but for example you couldn't bring egg mayonaise in from O/S unless they were 2 particular brands which had been cleared, even though you may be able to buy them on the shelves here. They often just blanket ban a product as it is easier.
cheers

[taswegian]

well that's interesting.
When in Hawaii I emailed them and asked about specific food products.
They gave me a very quick and detailed reply. I was very impressed.

On arrival in Sydney International I declared my food and showed what I had.
All well.
But I was quizzed and so asked more about what could/ couldn't be bought in.

They then asked if I had any beef jerky. That was a BIG NO NO.
But your site Lizzy says that is Okay!

1. An import permit is not required for beef jerky intended for human consumption only, provided the product is:
a) Shelf stable; and
b) Commercially prepared and packaged; and
c) Imported in an amount up to 1 kilogram; and
d) Manufactured in one of the countries specified on the DAFF FMD Approved Country List (see C19394 below); and
e) For the personal consumption of the person wishing to import it.
2. A Quarantine Entry is not required.
The officer was adamant and no exceptions.

I would imagine it probably comes down to the officer in control at the point of entry into Australia.
A matter of his or her interpretation on regulations or lack of proper understanding of the regulations.

I know when I imported some work equipment (freighted in), which is exempt from import duties, I had to argue once that it was exempt despite experience and knowledge from previous imports.

One thing I did learn on entry you don't argue with the customs etc late at night. Some did and it was not pleasant.

[ninjapuppet]

Ive brought a bunch of south african biltong in, declared it and the packaged stuff got thru while the home made stuff my mate gave me was confiscated. Yummy stuff it was too!

[Lizzy]

when I worked at the airport (years ago) we took all meat products from O/S - didn't matter if they were dried, packaged, tinned....
Most of the dried veges and fish just need to be inspected for insects.
You are right tho- depends on which inspector you get....

[forest]

Everything turned up today. No drama at all and pretty quick to boot.

[JB14]

Hi Forest,
I'm keen to buy some backcountry cuisine for a trip next month. Saw your post from Feb. Can you tell me how you ordered it? I can't see how you can order online from Backcountry NZ. Did you buy it from somewhere else?