An Australia-bound passenger has been slugged $2664 for bringing two sausage and egg McMuffins and a ham croissant in from Indonesia, a country which remains on high alert for foot and mouth disease.
The passenger allegedly provided a false and misleading document and failed to declare the potential high biosecurity risk item.
The food items were sniffed out by Darwin’s new biosecurity detector dog Zinta last week.
“This will be the most expensive Macca’s meal this passenger ever has,” Agriculture Minister Murray Watt said.
“This fine is twice the cost of an airfare to Bali, but I have no sympathy for people who choose to disobey Australia’s strict biosecurity measures, and recent detections show you will be caught.
“Australia is FMD-free, and we want it to stay that way.
“Biosecurity is no joke – it helps protect jobs, our farms, food and supports the economy. Passengers who choose to travel need to make sure they are fulfilling the conditions to enter Australia, by following all biosecurity measures.”
Last month, the federal government announced a $14m package to roll out more frontline defences in protecting from foot and mouth disease, including biosecurity dogs at airports.
The government also rolled out sanitation foot mats at all international airports.
Australia has also dispatched support for Indonesia and other countries.
