Is milk formula allowed into Australia?

[hazlinh]

dh thinks they ban all dairy products including milk formula? is this correct?

tia!

Have a look here at infant formula.

thank you! seems to say i CAN bring it in but must declare?

Yep, bring it but declare it.

cool. thank you!

I have just done this flight but with cows milk as my dd won't drink formula any more. We had to take a drink out of every bottle at Heathrow and again at Singapore. You are only allowed to take more than 100mls of liquids if it is baby milk. So I had to put all of the milk I needed into baby bottles and the airline stored them in the fridge. Are you going to have lots when you get here, for your stay, or just some for the flight and a bit extra? I brought in some biscuits and chocolate. I declared it and they looked at it and let it in. They are really fussy though. There are very strict rules and then there are all of the airlines rules on liquids.

hi savoycabbage,

from the guidelines, it seems packaged and manufactured stuff like biscuits and chocolate are ok, as long as u declare them? cos they should be free from bugs and other nasties?

haven't really thought abt what i'll bring, but i'll need a small tin at least of milk powder formula for 7 days. and a small amount for the return flights, i suppose. went to hong kong last year, and they didn't mind me bringing onboard a thermos of water as i explained it was for dd's milk. do u think they'll make me mix it up before i board? remind me of the airlines rules on liquids again? it's 100ml max per bottle is it?

I think a lot depends on the person that you happen to get at the airport. Singapore airlines told me that the 100mls rule didn't apply to baby milk but at Heathrow they told me that it did. We had to pour our sealed bottle of cows milk into the baby bottles at Heathrow AND THEN she made us drink out of every single one! Even though we had just poured them from the original bottle right in front of her...

I don't know what the rule is on water for babies. You can't take water for yourself. I can't see them letting you take on enough water for the whole flight. They are so strict, I was amazed.

You can buy ready made formula in the airport after you have gone through. I met a woman in the baby changing room who had forgotten all of her baby milk and had to get some from boots!

I always just buy the ready made cartons on the far side of customs to avoid the faff with the liquids rules- it also saves having to make up the formula on the flight (can be v messy).
The one time I did take powder I just used mineral water on the plane (it's fine for such a short period of time) so I didn't have to carry my own on. It's a real PITA though- would never do it again.
In Aus I just buy a tin of local formula - they really are all pretty much the same, so DS didn't mind one bit (I think the idea that babies can't be switched from one to another was made up by the formula companies to keep us brand-loyal).
Also in Aus you can buy formula in individual serve sachets (powder) which a v handy for travelling.

My main reason for not taking powder or anything that needs to be declared is that after 24 hours+ of travelling I am so exhausted that the idea of standing about in customs is just too much to bear (and just not necessary).

I did the same as Bubbaluv DD didn't seem to notice the change in brand.
Also manged to buy made up cartons in Aus for the return journey.

Just an update: I tooke a small tupperware of formula with me inflight, and a larger unopened packet for the 6 day trip. I declared it on the form and told the immigration and customs but they weren't interested in looking at it and just waved me through!

They did check people who had cooked food and fruit though...

PS: They also need you to declare all medicines and other food like packaged instant noodles. I had some aspirin and noodles, and also declared and announced to all the officers, and they just said yeah fine, go on through.

When I flew to Oz last year I measured out the right number of scoops and put them in little plastic containers, then the air host(ess)s made it up for me during the flight.

Presenting large quantities of white powder for inspection at Heathrow did cause a few titters, it helped that I had DS (then aged 10 months) under one arm.

I flew into Perth which is a pretty small airport and we arrived in the middle of the night, so that's why it didn't cause much hassle. Everyone on the flight seemed to have something they needed to tell customs about, and they just looked and waved me through.

You could just send all the milk you need over first, along with food/nappies etc to save this stress with the added bonus that you then don't have to carry it!

I used a great company called baby-holidays.com when I went on holiday last & would definitely recommend them!

I am just back yesterday.

I pre-ordered enough cartons to last the flight to Singapore (stopover 5 days) and then from Singapore into Perth.

I did not have any problems at customs in either London or Singapore but the cartons were bought airside at Heathrow so past security.

As for what you can take into Australia - just about anything BUT YOU MUST DECLARE IT. That means waiting in line with others to do so but the lines are just as long as those who don't have anything to declare.

Australia has huggies nappies and wipes as well as several other suppliers so you can get what you need when you get there - just take what you need for the flight and the first day. Coles and Woolworthes are everywhere in Australia.

They also do plenty of formulas in tubs and pre-made cartons, they do a good range of organic jars - nutrica from memory.

Also one of the formula brands is the equivalent of SMA here.