Personal effects consignments can be split into two separate types - accompanied and unaccompanied.  Accompanied means those consignments where the owner is present with the bag or case at the time of entry (e.g. as air or sea traveller).  Unaccompanied means those consignments where the owner is not necessarily present at time of entry, or has a Customs Broker acting as clearance agent on their behalf.  In both cases a Quarantine risk assessment will be undertaken upon entry.

People with accompanied consignments are required to make an entry declaration on the form supplied by the airline or shipping line.  Owners of unaccompanied consignments are required to make an entry declaration on a form supplied by their clearance broker, or at time of application at the Quarantine Office.  

For unaccompanied consignments a full list of contents is required to be supplied before any Quarantine risk assessment, and clearance formalities, can be completed.

Examples of personal or household items that require inspection include;
- Wooden items
- Gardening equipment
- Foodstuffs, especially honey and honey products
- Medicines, including chinese medicines
- Cane and bamboo furniture
- Bicycles, golf equipment, vacuum cleaner bags

Always declare these sorts of items, and if in doubt ask a Quarantine Officer for advice. Some items may be prohibited entry, and others may require treatment before entry can be allowed.