Two sausage and egg McMuffins and a ham croissant have cost an Australia-bound passenger $2,664 as the country’s biosecurity remains on high alert over fears of foot-and-mouth disease.
The passenger, who was arriving from Indonesia, allegedly provided a false and misleading document and failed to declare the potentially high biosecurity risk item.
All three items were sniffed out by Darwin’s new biosecurity sniffer dog, Zinta, last week.
They will be tested for foot-and-mouth disease before being destroyed.
Agriculture Minister Murray Watt said it not only failed to decriminalize the food but also threatened Australia’s status as FMD, which has ravaged Indonesia’s cloven-hoofed animals.
Camera icon A passenger has been fined more than $2664 for failing to declare his McDonald’s McMuffins and a ham croissant. Credit: Provided
“This will be the most expensive Macca’s meal this passenger has ever had,” Senator Watt said.
“This fine is double the cost of a plane ticket to Bali, but I have no sympathy for people who choose to disobey Australia’s strict biosecurity measures, and recent detections show you will be caught.
“Australia is FMD free and we want it to stay that way.
“Biosecurity is no joke – it helps protect jobs, our farms, food and supports the economy. Passengers who choose to travel must ensure they meet the conditions to enter Australia, following all biosecurity measures.”
Camera icon Agriculture Minister Murray Watt said Australia was taking foot-and-mouth disease seriously. NCA NewsWire / Sarah Marshall Credit: News Corp Australia
Zinta’s discovery of the products comes as Indonesian authorities say they have foot-and-mouth disease under control in four provinces, including Bali.
Last month, the federal government announced a $14 million package to deploy more frontline defenses in FMD protection, including biosecurity dogs at Darwin and Cairns airports.
The government also deployed foot sanitation mats at all international airports.
Australia has also sent support to Indonesia and other countries.