Fresh flowers are a treat for the eyes and the nose, but they may cost you dearly if you carry them on a flight to Australia - something Malayalam actor Navya Nair recently found out the hard way. She was fined Rs 1.15 lakh for carrying fresh-cut jasmine flowers, gajra, without declaring them to the customs at Melbourne Airport in Australia. According to multiple reports, speaking at a public event afterward, attending the Onam celebrations organised by the Malayali Association, she shared, "Before I came here, it was my father who bought jasmine for me. He cut it into two parts and gave it to me. He asked me to wear one in my hair from Kochi to Singapore, as it would likely wither by the time I reached Singapore. He told me to keep the second one in my handbag so I could wear it on the onward journey from Singapore. I put it in my carry bag." Calling it a mistake, she continued, "What I did was against the law. It was a mistake I made unknowingly. However, ignorance is no excuse. For bringing a 15 cm jasmine string, officials asked me to pay a fine of AUD 1,980 (Rs 1.15 lakh). A mistake is a mistake, though it was not intentional. They told me the fine must be paid within 28 days." According to the official website of the Australian Government's Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF), the passenger must declare all flowers and foliage on the incoming passenger card. "They will be inspected on arrival at the Australian border. Only cut flowers that we verify as free from pests can enter Australia," it reads. According to the guideline, knowing the scientific or common name of the flowers or foliage will help ensure your goods can be cleared more quickly. "If live pests are found, we will need to identify the pest and may need the flowers to be treated before releasing them to you. You will be responsible for any costs," it states. This incident underscores the seriousness with which international border security agencies enforce biosecurity and customs regulations, noted Dhairyashil Vandekar, an aviation expert and analyst. According to Vandekar, many countries, including India and Australia, maintain stringent restrictions on the import of plant material, food items, and biological products to protect local agriculture, environment, and biodiversity. "Even small quantities of plant-based items such as flowers, fruits, or seeds are treated as potential biosecurity risks," Vandekar said. From an Indian perspective, passengers must recognise that cultural or religious items commonly carried in India, like flowers, flower garlands, betel leaves, food products, etc., may not be permissible abroad. "India, too, enforces strict controls on the import of agricultural and animal-origin products at its airports to prevent pest or disease introduction. Aviation security and border control agencies worldwide adopt a policy of zero tolerance in such cases, and rightly so. Penalties are levied immediately that serving as a deterrent and a clear global message," said Vandekar. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Navya Nair (@navyanair143) The same rule also applies to dried and preserved cut flowers and foliage, which is to be inspected on arrival to verify that they are free from exotic pests and diseases and ensure that they are dried or preserved and are not fresh. "Air passengers are strongly advised to familiarise themselves with the entry requirements of their destination before departure, as ignorance is not accepted as an excuse in such matters," Vandekar told indianexpress.com. It must be understood that biosecurity regulations are an integral part of border management, as vital as aviation safety and immigration control. "Strengthening passenger education and awareness through airlines, in-flight announcements and displays, airports, consulates, and public information platforms would help prevent such unintended situations and ensure smoother international travel," said Vandekar. DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to.
