Passenger fined $1,874 after two unadvertised McMuffins found in luggage

Posted On: August 1, 2022

(CNN) – A traveler traveling from Bali, Indonesia to Australia paid a fortune for a McDonald’s breakfast.

The anonymous passengers have been fined A$2,664 ($1,874) after two eggs and an undeclared Beef McMuffins sausage and a ham croissant were found in their luggage on arrival at London Airport. Darwin in the country’s Northern Territory last week.

The incident comes days after Australian authorities imposed strict new biosecurity rules following an outbreak of mouth and nail disease (AMD) in Indonesia that spread to tourist destination Bali. popular australian.

Australia’s Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry said a biosecurity detection dog named Zinda detected “unspecified hazardous materials” in passengers’ backpacks, including fast food items.

“This will be the most expensive macaw food this traveler has ever had,” Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Minister Murray Watt said. said in a statement.

“The fine is more than double the airfare to Bali, but I have no sympathy for anyone who fails to comply with Australia’s strict biosecurity measures and recent findings suggest you will be arrested.”

Strict biosecurity measures

The foot-and-mouth outbreak in Indonesia prompted Australia to introduce several new biosecurity measures, including detection dogs at Darwin airport in the north of the country.

Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

The report confirmed that the passenger had received a “12-unit violation notice for failure to declare high-risk biosecurity material and provide false and misleading documentation”. Convulsions should be tested for foot and mouth disease before being crushed.

“Australia is free of foot and mouth disease and we want that to continue,” Watt said.

Last month, Australia’s Federal Executive Government announced a $9.8 million biosecurity program, introducing new measures including sanitary pads at all international airports at national borders and biosecurity dogs stationed at airports in Darwin and Cairns. Bovine transmission in Indonesia.

Experts estimate an eruption in Australia could cause up to $80 billion in economic damage.

“With the presence of foot-and-mouth disease (PMK) in Indonesia, Indonesian tourists will be subject to stricter biosecurity checks.” Read the report Published by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forests on July 19.

“Failure to report a biosecurity risk is a violation of Australian biosecurity laws, and anyone found in violation will be subject to a notice of violation of up to $2,664.

“Travellers entering Australia on temporary visas may have their visas revoked and, where appropriate, refused entry to Australia.”

Although foot-and-mouth disease is relatively harmless to humans, it causes painful blisters and sores on the mouths and feet of ruminants such as cattle, sheep, pigs, goats and camels.

The disease is transmitted through live animals, meat and dairy products, as well as through the clothes, shoes or luggage of people who have been in contact with infected animals.

“The impact on farmers if foot and mouth disease enters is too heartbreaking to think about,” said Fiona Simpson, president of the National Farmers Union. told CNN last month.

“But it’s not just about farmers. Removing $80 billion from Australia’s GDP would be an economic disaster for everyone.”

Top image: Agriculture, fishing and forestry

CNN’s Hillary Whiteman also contributed to this report.