Bringing snus to Australia

[UsualSnuspects]

I'm going to Australia for one week, and I'm looking for advice in bringing ~5 cans with me. Any tips to avoid paying a tariff to customs?

Also any advice for a yank in Melbourne in November is welcome.

[Skell18]

I know their customs rules have just changed so best to check your airline's website out or speak to the Aussie embassy, they will be able to tell you as I think it is a blanket application to all forms of tobacco.

Weather won't be too dissimilar to socal weather , will be spring there so warn enough in the day but can still get a bit nippy in the evenings. You will love it, 1 week is not enough to do Oz properly esp if travelling from far afield. Also I would try not to take any kind of food with you in your luggage unless you bought it in the duty free shop, as they confiscate almost everything.

Don't advertise the fact that you're a yank either, pretend to be Canadian, they will treat you better

[UsualSnuspects]

Thanks for the tips! Seems as of Oct. 2 it's a 50g limit on any kind of tobacco. Yikes... that's two tins of portions, or one tin of Pioneer.

[lxskllr]

Thanks for the tips! Seems as of Oct. 2 it's a 50g limit on any kind of tobacco. Yikes... that's two tins of portions, or one tin of Pioneer.

Or 200g of shoe polish ;^)

[GoVegan]

You can always put some los snus in a coffee can.

[burtclifton]

If you're talking about a small amount (like 5 cans or so), you shouldn't have any trouble. I've never had any while visiting from NZ. Australia's got some pretty hard-line quarantine laws (given their history of what happens when you introduce non-native species - case in point, the cane toad) and puritanical rules about bringing in porn, but your snus should be fine. Hell, most customs people in Australasia won't know what the hell it is. It's not really that different (as far as they're concerned) from bringing in a few packs of cigarettes that you yourself purchased for the trip.

[Mikko]

burtclifton has a point. In Hong Kong/Singapore/Australia/NZ almost none of the customs people know what snus is, I've had a can of 01 removed from my jacket at airport security in Perth and I just told them it was hair product like wax (they couldn't open it properly by the way, they just opened the catch lid and thought it was empty XD). I've carried anywhere from 3-5 cans in my bag on trips to Australia to visit my girlfriend and was never bothered about it.

[NicotineRush]

Mail it to yourself. I ship to AU all the time with no problem!

[AussieSnuser]

This is the most recent article on legislation regarding bringing snus into Aussie -

Can I import chewing tobacco and oral snuff / snuss / gutkha?

Oral snuff and chewing tobacco is a Prohibited Import under Regulation 4U and Item 5 of Schedule 12 of the Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulations. This regulation reflects bans under the Trade Practices Act.

A personal exemption from a permit requirement of 1.5 kilograms exists on importations of chewing tobacco or oral snuff. Duty and GST is payable.

Note: The Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer (the Minister) is responsible for issuing permits to importers of goods listed in Schedule 12 of the Regulations. The Minister receives policy advice from the Product Safety Policy Section of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC). The ACCC will not however recommend a permit be issued for these goods on the basis that it would not be consistent with current government policies aimed at reducing tobacco use in Australia.

Through the airport:

Although 1.5kg may be imported without a permit, the passenger allowance is 50grams duty free but duty and GST is payable on the whole amount if this is exceeded.

The duty rate for snuss / snuff and chewing tobacco is $446.65/kg of tobacco content from 1 February 2013. Tobacco content means ‘anything (including moisture) added to the tobacco leaf during manufacturing or processing’ Refer to Australian Customs Notice 2008 / 31. Duty is therefore calculated on the total net weight of the shipment. Tariff item 2403.99.80. There are no preferential rates of duty for tobacco products. GST is 10%.

GST is calculated on (customs value of the goods + duty + transport and insurance) x 10%.

For further information contact:

Product Safety Branch
Australian Competition&Consumer Commission
GPO Box 3131
Canberra ACT 2601
Phone(02) 6243 1262

[Crow]

I'll be in Australia und New Zealand this winter [which is summer down there], and I am wondering...........

Would it be cool if I bring an ounce with me? TSA will allow me to bring it on the plane per my authorisation, and besides... it's just an ounce..!! :^)

In all seriousness, this thread is very helpful. I will bring a roll with me and observe the damage. Keep you lot posted.

[Skell18]

Would it be cool if I bring an ounce with me? TSA will allow me to bring it on the plane per my authorisation, and besides... it's just an ounce..!! :^

If you want to end up in jail and being deported, yeah go for it, I seriously hope you're joking mate? Big no no, they will send you straight back where you came from after experiencing aussie justice and be banned from ever entering the country ever again. If you want weed just buy it in Kings Cross in Sydney, plenty of people hawking it there but do so at your peril!

[Crow]

If you want to end up in jail and being deported, yeah go for it, I seriously hope you're joking mate? Big no no, they will send you straight back where you came from after experiencing aussie justice and be banned from ever entering the country ever again. If you want weed just buy it in Kings Cross in Sydney, plenty of people hawking it there but do so at your peril!

That one flew right over your head mate

In all seriousness, this thread is very helpful. I will bring a roll with me and observe the damage. Keep you lot posted.

[Crow]

Just thought of something... How would the Aussie customs treat electronic nicotine liquid? I was thinking of bringing different flavors on the trip.

[Skell18]

Just thought of something... How would the Aussie customs treat electronic nicotine liquid? I was thinking of bringing different flavors on the trip.

See above

[trebli]

"The duty rate for snuss / snuff and chewing tobacco is $446.65/kg of tobacco content …"


Good grief, that's high. Are cigarettes expensive in Australia?