Tourist fined thousands of dollars after sneaking McMuffins into Australia amid foot-and-mouth disease scare
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Before flying internationally, the majority of us know that there are certain items that we can’t bring on board a plane. Typically, these forbidden items are flammables, firearms, and illegal drugs – but one traveller found themselves in hot water after attempting to sneak in a seemingly innocent Macca’s meal into the country.
A backpacker has purchased ‘likely the most expensive McDonald's meal,’ after they were charged a hefty fine for bringing two egg and beef sausage McMuffins, hot cakes, and a ham croissant from Bali into Australia.
The tourist stopped by a McDonald’s store in Indonesia before catching a flight to Darwin on Sunday.
The food items were found inside the passenger’s backpack by a detector dog, Zinta, while border security officials were searching bags at the airport.
The Macca’s meal was discovered by a sniffer dog, Zinta. Source: flipboard.com
They were fined a staggering $2,664 for failing to disclose potentially high biosecurity risk items as well as providing a false and misleading document.
The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forestry (DAFF) Minister Murray Watt criticised the backpacker for bringing in food that could contain the highly contagious foot-and-mouth disease.
'This may likely be the most expensive Macca's meal that the passenger will ever have. The fine is twice the cost of airfare to Bali but I have no sympathy for people who choose to disobey Australia's strict biosecurity measures and recent detections show that you will be caught,' he stated.
Biosecurity has ramped up across all Australian airports as the foot-and-mouth disease escalates. The disease is a highly-contagious virus that affects livestock and often results in a significant and devastating economic impact.
Indonesia is one of the countries struggling with the spread of the disease for months, with the virus recently popping up in Bali.
The DAFF explained that it can be passed on to meat and dairy products as well as soil, bones, vehicles, and equipment. The virus can also survive freezing temperatures.
A cow infected with the foot-and-mouth disease. Source: emergence
The farming industry has previously warned that if the disease makes its way to Australia, it could cost the cattle industry $80 billion as the country would lose its FMD-free designation.
Mr Watt added that the government is taking the necessary measures to protect the country from the disease.
'Australia is FMD-free, and we want it to stay that way,' he said.
'Biosecurity is no joke — it helps protect jobs, local farms and food, and it 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.
‘It's excellent to see that Zinta is already contributing to keeping the country safe.’
What are your thoughts on this story? Did the tourist deserve to get fined thousands of dollars or was the charge a little too excessive? Let us know in the comments below!
Learn more about FMD by watching the video below:
Source: Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations
A backpacker has purchased ‘likely the most expensive McDonald's meal,’ after they were charged a hefty fine for bringing two egg and beef sausage McMuffins, hot cakes, and a ham croissant from Bali into Australia.
The tourist stopped by a McDonald’s store in Indonesia before catching a flight to Darwin on Sunday.
The food items were found inside the passenger’s backpack by a detector dog, Zinta, while border security officials were searching bags at the airport.
The Macca’s meal was discovered by a sniffer dog, Zinta. Source: flipboard.com
They were fined a staggering $2,664 for failing to disclose potentially high biosecurity risk items as well as providing a false and misleading document.
The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forestry (DAFF) Minister Murray Watt criticised the backpacker for bringing in food that could contain the highly contagious foot-and-mouth disease.
'This may likely be the most expensive Macca's meal that the passenger will ever have. The fine is twice the cost of airfare to Bali but I have no sympathy for people who choose to disobey Australia's strict biosecurity measures and recent detections show that you will be caught,' he stated.
Biosecurity has ramped up across all Australian airports as the foot-and-mouth disease escalates. The disease is a highly-contagious virus that affects livestock and often results in a significant and devastating economic impact.
Indonesia is one of the countries struggling with the spread of the disease for months, with the virus recently popping up in Bali.
The DAFF explained that it can be passed on to meat and dairy products as well as soil, bones, vehicles, and equipment. The virus can also survive freezing temperatures.
A cow infected with the foot-and-mouth disease. Source: emergence
The farming industry has previously warned that if the disease makes its way to Australia, it could cost the cattle industry $80 billion as the country would lose its FMD-free designation.
Mr Watt added that the government is taking the necessary measures to protect the country from the disease.
'Australia is FMD-free, and we want it to stay that way,' he said.
'Biosecurity is no joke — it helps protect jobs, local farms and food, and it 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.
‘It's excellent to see that Zinta is already contributing to keeping the country safe.’
What are your thoughts on this story? Did the tourist deserve to get fined thousands of dollars or was the charge a little too excessive? Let us know in the comments below!
Learn more about FMD by watching the video below:
Source: Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations
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