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Can you take your dog to Tasmania?

Happy dog lying on grass.

Most South Australian travellers who enjoy interstate road trips are aware of the rules about bringing fruit and veg back into SA.

But there are other biosecurity regulations in our state and throughout the country you may not know.

South Australia

Travellers aren’t permitted to bring fruit and vegetables into SA, but it’s not quite that simple.

For example, if you’re flying into SA from Tasmania, your Tasmanian avocados are allowed entry, but avocados from other states must stay at home.

Cucurbits – like cucumber, pumpkin, squash, zucchini – from Victoria and Tasmania are okay, but conditions apply if they’re arriving from other states. A list of restricted fruit and vegetables from each state is available on the Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA) website.

Keep in mind, restrictions apply for each state you’ve travelled through en route to SA. So, if your Tasmania avocados accompanied you through Victoria, they’re not allowed into SA.

Mashing or cutting up fruit doesn’t mean it can be brought into SA, but there’s no problem if it’s dried, preserved, cooked, frozen or canned.

It might be easier to leave your fresh fruit and veg interstate before crossing back into SA.

Riverland

To protect the local agricultural industry, restrictions on carrying fruit and veg into the Riverland are more comprehensive, even if you’re coming from other parts of South Australia.

Kangaroo Island

Kangaroo Island has a thriving honey-producing industry, based on the productive and relatively docile Ligurian bee, imported from Italy in 1884.

Honey dripping from honeycomb
Kangaroo Island produces delicious honey. Image: Meaghan Coles

The isolation of island life has allowed these little Italian travellers to be among the purest of their species in the world, which means they’re susceptible to introduced diseases.

Visitors to KI aren’t permitted to bring bees, bee products and beekeeping equipment onto the island.

While you’re leaving your beehive tools at home, also remove any rabbits, ferrets, goats and unwashed potatoes from your luggage.

Dirty spuds and feral animals aren’t welcome on KI.

Victoria

Victoria has several biosecurity zones but not all of them are likely to affect travellers from South Australia.

One of the main focuses is preventing phylloxera – a tiny aphid-like insect – from infesting grape-growing regions.

There are three types of phylloxera management zones in Victoria:

  • Phylloxera infested zone
  • Phylloxera exclusion zone
  • Phylloxera risk zone

Rules apply to each zone.

To prevent the spread of phylloxera, visitors are asked not to enter vineyards without approval from the property manager.

New South Wales and ACT

NSW also has several biosecurity zones but not all of them are likely to impact South Australian travellers.

Like Victoria, NSW has Phylloxera infested areas, and visitors are asked not to enter vineyards without approval from the property manager.

Queensland

Fresh fruit from WA cannot be carried into QLD, and bananas from the NT must stay west of the border.

There are several biosecurity zones within Queensland concerning a variety of pests and plants.

Some of these are intended to keep pests like electric ants within already infested areas, while others, like the sugarcane biosecurity zones, were established to prevent pest and diseases moving between zones.

Sugarcane field with hill in background
Queensland is keen to protect its sugarcane industry. Image: Getty

If you plan on taking your favourite pig skin into the sunshine state, be aware that animal skins and hides from NSW and the NT must not cross the border.

Tasmania

If you’re planning to take your pooch across Bass Strait, you’ll need to complete a declaration form regarding your dog’s health, and provide evidence it’s been treated for hydatid tapeworm. Exemptions to the tapeworm treatment rule are explained in this biosecurity document.

To further prevent tapeworm infection, dogs in Tasmania can’t be fed cooked or uncooked offal from cattle, sheep, goats or pigs, unless it’s in manufactured pet food.

Fresh fruit and vegetables, including potatoes, fresh herbs, garlic, ginger and onions, as well as honeycomb or unfiltered honey not produced in Tasmania, must not be imported onto the Apple Isle by travellers.

There are also specific regulations regarding the importation of plants, fish, and other animals,

A simple yes/no checklist can be found here.

Western Australia

WA prohibits the import of fresh fruit and veg, raw walnuts in their shell, honey and other hive products (unless certified as heat-treated), birdseed, and raw crustaceans into the state from other parts of the country.

Exemptions to the fruit and veg restriction include pineapple, watermelon (peeled and diced), onion, garlic, carrot, ginger and several more items, as long as they’re free of sprouting green growth, soil, pests and disease. Yes, your turnips and galangal are allowed entry.

WA farm biosecurity sign
Help keep WA pest free. Image. Western Australian Government

There are also restrictions on intrastate movement of fruit and plants, to prevent pests and diseases reaching sensitive agricultural regions.

Northern Territory

Any fruit and some types of vegetables bought interstate must be disposed of before you reach the Ti Tree Fruit Fly Exclusion Zone between Alice springs and Tennant Creek. This includes capsicum, chilli, tomato, eggplant, cucumber, zucchini and squash.

Beans, capsicum, chilli, cucumber, eggplant, melons, mangoes, okra, pumpkin, silverbeet, squash, tomato and zucchini aren’t permitted south of Adelaide River on the Stuart Highway.

This is by no means a complete list of biosecurity regulations for Australia. Check the relevant state agriculture department websites before transporting food, plants and animals across state borders.