Hi I am type 1 and have got the opportunity to visit Australia but got told by a work colleague today that I wouldn't be able to take jelly babies into the country with me. Has anyone travelled to Australia and taken jelly babies with them? Can you take them in if you declare them? Any help gratefully received.
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Travelling to Australia for first time
- Thread starter Clarew
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mikeyB
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
It may be because they fall into the animal products trap. The gelatine.
Take Dextro tablets or glucose syrup to cover the flight, and buy your jelly babies (or similar) over there.
It's a weird regulation. There are no records of anyone getting mad cow disease from jelly babies.
Take Dextro tablets or glucose syrup to cover the flight, and buy your jelly babies (or similar) over there.
It's a weird regulation. There are no records of anyone getting mad cow disease from jelly babies.
Copepod
Much missed Moderator
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
I'd check Australian government websites to be sure. I haven't been there since starting insulin over 20 years ago. Being an island / continent nation with significant agriculture, they're naturally very keen to keep out pests and diseases so all food items must be declared on entry.
Hope you get jelly baby issue sorted, but have a great time
Austin Mini
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- Type 1
Yes you can. Declare on your Australia arrivals card (handed to you on the aeroplane) you have food ie jelly babies before you land. When you have passed thro passport border control pick up your luggage and go straight to the customs baggage check point (as seen on Border Control on TV). Find a customs officer and show him your jelly babies and your arrivals card. As you have declared then you will not be subject to any fine. When we entered New Zealand last October I declared to the customs that I had thrown into their bin my Toffee Crisp bars. They replied that it was a waste of chocolate and I could have brought them in. Have a great time in Aus.
DeusXM
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Just take glucose tablets with you, you don't need to declare them. It's far less hassle in the long run. The last thing you want after a 22-hour flight is to have to spend half an hour with a customs officer explaining why you've got jelly babies with you, and that conversation is going to become even longer and more irritating when they start rummaging through your bag and asking why you've got all these needles and lancets. You're allowed to carry needles, of course, but it's just another thing that's really not worth the hassle.
Austin Mini
Well-Known Member
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- Type 1
Dont forget to take one of your repeat prescriptions with you just in case you fall ill. That way the Ausie docs can see straight away what you have been prescribed and in what ammount. You will have to declare glucose tablets as anything you put in your mouth and swallow is classed as food, declare them on your arrivals card. Customs officials all know about diabetics and what they use.
DeusXM
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Really? I walked through scanners at Australian, Kiwi and Polynesian airports about 20 times in the last month and not once did they pick up glucose tablets.
Austin Mini
Well-Known Member
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- Type 1
If you can eat it its food. I declared that I had read the arrivals form and that I wasnt carrying any food. On Sundays TV 'Border Control Australia' the customs officers made this quite plain to a Chineese then fined them both $200.
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