Quarantine question: bringing macaroons into Australia?

[ChrisFlyer]

Hi all,

Has anyone had any experience with bringing macaroons into Australia? Obviously, I know that they must be declared, but the quarantine website states that egg products *may* be confiscated (macaroons are made with egg whites). I would think that they'd be fine as they'll be purchased from a Jean-Paul Hevin store and would be in the proper packaging, though as they sell them on an individual basis here and box them in the store, they would not be 'sealed' as such...

Long story short - any thoughts either for or against bringing them back? ... I was planing to buy about 20

 

[KitKat]

I think you could give it a go... noting that depending on who you get to process you they may be confiscated.
I personally would not, not because I do not like macaroons, far from it, I love them, especially those from Laduree.
I just think that they are best eaten fresh. I remember the box of 20 I bought, ate 10 that night and the other half the next day, big difference in taste

 

[MatF]

I think you could give it a go... noting that depending on who you get to process you they may be confiscated.
I personally would not, not because I do not like macaroons, far from it, I love them, especially those from Laduree.
I just think that they are best eaten fresh. I remember the box of 20 I bought, ate 10 that night and the other half the next day, big difference in taste

Heh, we bought a box of 20 last year from LaDuree on the Champs Elysees, and they didn't last the morning

 

[KitKat]

Heh, we bought a box of 20 last year from LaDuree on the Champs Elysees, and they didn't last the morning

Hmmm, another fan
Not long to go... two more weeks and I will have some in my hands (not long there before they pop into my mouth)

 

[proskyneo]

My understanding was that if any food product is not properly sealed, they will be confiscated as you can't prove that you bought them from a particular store.

Their wording is commercially prepared food.

If it was sealed and nicely packaged with detailed ingredients and where it was made etc. then that might work

There's always the chance that they send you down a particular lane where they don't even check, depending on what your declaration is of course..

 

[ChrisFlyer]

I do have the leftover box from buying the same thing the other day - the box is branded (and nicely designed), and a label on the back has a full ingredients list and a best before date... the seal is not airtight though!

My declaration on arrival this time will be the same as my last trip - food, and wood products... Last time, I was just asked what food I had (was Swiss choccies & breath mints), and the staff member was then much more interested in the timber frame, and didn't even look at the food. This time, I think I'm tempted to say "packaged JPH French mararoons, flavoured lip gloss (friend asked for some), breath mints, and a timber frame"... I assume that this would give me the best chance of being able to bring them in with me - as it is a reputable brand name, they are in a box, and I can keep the receipt to prove purchase from said store (if that means anything)!

Wish me luck!

 

[Leumas]

I'd just say it's biscuits...

 

[vertisol]

I have some insider knowledge on this. They are no problem but you must declare them.

Sent from my HUAWEI SONIC using AustFreqFly

 

[ellen10]

mmm.......macaroons!!.....I need a fix.

 

[haydensydney]

You shouldn't have any issues. I've been continually surprised by their leneancy towards food stuffs being bought into the country. For instance, I bought heaps of tea in Hong Kong and they barely flinched...

You will be fine.

 

[samiam]

I think you could give it a go... noting that depending on who you get to process you they may be confiscated.
I personally would not, not because I do not like macaroons, far from it, I love them, especially those from Laduree.
I just think that they are best eaten fresh. I remember the box of 20 I bought, ate 10 that night and the other half the next day, big difference in taste

I celebrated a birthday at the above establishment, with the most mouth melting macaroons to finish- another fan!

 

[ChrisFlyer]

Thanks for the replies everyone!

 

[KitKat]

Thanks for the replies everyone!

How did you go?

 

[ChrisFlyer]

Had no problems at all - they were on the list of food that I declared, and the AQIS guy just had a brief look at the box - they weren't shrink-wrapped, but just in the box and held closed with a bow... he didn't check the ingredients list or anything like that - he was more concerned with the timber frame that I was bringing back

And for the record, they were still delicious, even the day after the flight

I'm in France now, and was surprised to see McDonald's selling them!!! ... haven't been game enough to try a Maccas macaroon yet though haha!

 

[Pollywaffle]

These are my macarons from the French Open earlier this year. Even though they were pre-packaged, they tasted good.



PS. That's tea in the cup and not beer as many of my friends suggested.

 

[DeKa]

I'm in France now, and was surprised to see McDonald's selling them!!! ... haven't been game enough to try a Maccas macaroon yet though haha!

McDonalds France's macarons are better than any macaron I've tried in Australia. They are often biscuity here. I'd go as far as saying McDonalds macarons are consistently better than Adriano Zumbo macarons. I'd recommend trying them!

 

[equus]

he was more concerned with the timber frame that I was bringing back

And there is the secret to easy passage of things which may be doubtful - have something more interesting for them to look at!

Quite some time ago, I was returning from NZ well over the $900pp limit. I declared everything, writing out quite a list all over the card, and was prepared to pay. I also had some wooden items, and a joke board with a New Zealand "road" o'possum - basically a board with a toy possum head, a car tyre track over the middle, and a possum tail. This was declared (wood and animal prodcut). The fur was real possum fur.

This led to interesting discussions amonst seveal customs and AQIS staff, because possums are protected in Australia. After quite a lot of discussion (and some time), they reached the obvious conclusion that whilst protected in Australia, they aren't in NZ, and are not on any endangered species list or prohibited import - so it was all good.

After all this time, they glanced over the list of over the value items, and crossed a few off (without really looking), deciding that they shouldn't apply, said the total was now below the limit, and get out of here.

I firmly believe that after a bit of a joke with the possum, the fact that we had been there for some time, and having everything even remotely questionable declared, the reaction was to not bother with the hassle of trying to assess import duty, and just move on. Saved me quite a bit of money, and I was happy