China told its people on Thursday not to take mooncakes containing egg yolk or meat to Australia because of the threat of bird flu and other diseases.
The Foreign Ministry reminded people heading to Australia for the Sept. 25 Mid-Autumn Festival of strict quarantine laws which prohibit the import of a wide range of food for fear of diseases such as bird flu, Newcastle disease and foot and mouth.
The strict quarantine laws carry fines of up to $49,000 and 10 years' jail for failure to declare banned foods.
A mooncake is seen at a bakery in Hong Kong in this September 15, 2004 file photo. China told its people on Thursday not to take mooncakes containing egg yolk or meat to Australia because of the threat of bird flu and other diseases. (REUTERS/Bobby Yip)
"The bans are necessary to protect Australia's high animal, plant and human health standards from exotic pests and guard lucrative overseas export products," the government said.
Mooncakes, a sweet, pastry with a bean or nut base and an acquired taste for many in the West, are a traditional treat for Chinese around the world during the Mid-Autumn, or Moon, Festival.
Copyright © 2007 Reuters

Food
Quarantine restrictions apply to many raw foods and certain processed foods brought through the airport or mailed to Australia. The following items are prohibited:
* eggs and egg products
* dairy products
* uncanned meat
* seeds and nuts
* fresh fruit and vegetables

I have told u.No mooncake to OZ.Full Stop.Messsage end.Good nite.Originally posted by fudgester:If there is a point you would like to make, noisy lion, just spit it out.
Now.
Why why, do you have to run away from your guilt?Originally posted by lionnoisy:I have told u.No mooncake to OZ.Full Stop.Messsage end.Good nite.
2.I just dunt want your mum or grand mum broken heart
when their moon cake dumped into rubbish bin in OZ airports.
Hide it lah......
1. You don't get it. You tell us they don't allow mooncakes into Australia. So? What are the implications of this measure by Australian customs? What's so important about this that it demands to be discussed at length in Speaker's Corner.Originally posted by lionnoisy:I have told u.No mooncake to OZ.Full Stop.Messsage end.Good nite.
2.I just dunt want your mum or grand mum broken heart
when their moon cake dumped into rubbish bin in OZ airports.
Hide it lah......
There's Australian-made mooncakes. So what's the big fuss?Originally posted by lionnoisy:I have told u.No mooncake to OZ.Full Stop.Messsage end.Good nite.
2.I just dunt want your mum or grand mum broken heart
when their moon cake dumped into rubbish bin in OZ airports.
Hide it lah......
There are local Australian bakeries who make mooncakes. Ask around for the Asian delis..Originally posted by Othello_Red:I'm in Aust now and I can get mooncakes. My uni has some linnks with somewhere to get them. Dunno the source of import though.