What are the "risk" items I should avoid bringing in ?
These are items that could possibly still carry an animal or plant disease, or harbour a pest, or which could become a threat to our environment.
Although most are obvious - live animals, live plants, fresh meat and fresh fruit/vegetables, others are not so obvious. These would include eggs, dairy products, skins, used machinery, chinese medicines, seeds, untreated wooden items and contaminated sea containers.
If in doubt leave it behind.

Why is meat from some countries not allowed ?
Not all meat is prohibited entry, in some cases provided a prior Permit to Import has been issued, and entry conditions met, it is OK to bring in.
Prohibited meat is one of the ways that a serious animal disease could enter our country. Foot and Mouth disease is the most devastating possibility as it would destroy the healthy status of our cattle and pigs, and may significantly affect our dietary habits.

Why is my one apple or orange a risk ?
Although we have several species of fruit fly in Samoa they are controllable and do not greatly affect our commercial production.
There are many overseas species of fruit fly that would effect our production of fruits and vegetables - and would possibly mean the end for many of our produce exports.
These fruit flies are present in many of our near neighbouring countries (for example Queensland, Australia where they have recently spent many millions of dollars controlling an outbreak) and one thoughtless act of bringing in an infested undeclared apple or orange could be the start of an outbreak here.

Why can't I bring in my honey ?
Honey is produced by bees in completely natural conditions and when collected and packaged does not go through any sterilising process.
Samoa produces superior honey because our environment is so clean and disease free, other countries are not so fortunate and imported honey could be the potential carrier of bee diseases that would decimate our honey production capability.                                                                                                                       back to top

Why can't I bring back processed foods ?
In most cases you can, but the term "processed" means different things to different people. In some cases "processed foods" are still capable of carrying a disease - and of course of harbouring pests.
The best thing to do is to ask us first then you won't be disappointed on arrival.

Why is it so important that I fill in my declaration form honestly ?
The main reason is that by so doing you are helping keep Samoa free of exotic pests and other things that could harm our environment, as it enables the Quarantine Officer to make a risk judgement on goods you are carrying.
The other reason is that your declaration form is a legal document. If you make a false declaration you will be prosecuted.

Please be aware that there are severe penalties for non-declaration of risk items.    back to top

Surely Quarantine Officers are not doing their job; they hardly ever spray the aircraft on arrival ?
Regular passenger flights do not require the Quarantine Officer to spray the aircraft as soon as it lands, as the aircraft has either undergone a residual insecticide treatment (which can last for up to 3 months) or the aircrew have undertaken an in-flight insecticide procedure. Most airlines opt for one or other of these systems as they mean that their passengers can disembark immediately the flight arrives.
From the Quarantine viewpoint both are much more effective ways of disinsecting the aircraft than the on-arrival system.

What about cakes and sweets, surely I don't need to declare those ?
The declaration forma asks you to declare all foodstuffs, so you need to declare these too.
In the vast majority of cases the Quarantine Officer will just satisfy him or herself that what you are carrying is a "true" sweet or cake and allow entry.
In some cases (and in some countries) the term "sweets" covers foodstuffs that also contain meats, or which are raw or dried fruits - and some "cakes" also contain whole eggs.

Please declare all foodstuffs you are carrying and let the Quarantine Officer decide the biosecurity risk status.

Please be aware that there are severe penalties for non-declaration of risk items.   back to top

What is this word "biosecurity" and why is it so important ?
Biosecurity and biodiversity are two words that go hand-in-hand.

Biosecurity - means protecting our agriculture, our environment and our people's health from plant and animal pests, diseases and weeds.

The word "biosecurity" comes from "bio" meaning life forms, and from "security" in this sense meaning protection from.

Biodiversity - means the diversity of plant and animal life in a particular habitat.        back to top

So Quarantine, by providing biosecurity at the border, is protecting our unique environmental diversity.
For example;

Pests;
- some carry diseases
- some insects eat valuable crops and pastures
- some kill or damage livestock
Weeds;
- some compete with plants or crops for sunlight, water and nutrients
- some damage or are poisonous to animals
- some carry plant diseases
- some invade environmentally sensitive areas
Animals;
- some act as hosts which spread diseases to other animals
- some damage or eliminate native fauna (and flora)
- some damage infrastructures (e.g. nesting in buildings)
- some are a noise nuisance                                                                                       back to top