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The unnamed tourist was fined $1,874 after security found two portions of egg and beef sausage sandwiches in his luggage while he was going through procedures at Darwin Airport in northern Australia, CNN reported.
This incident occurred just days after Australian authorities implemented strict food safety regulations due to a severe outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in Indonesia. Bali, a popular tourist destination in the archipelago, also recorded numerous cases of the disease. Consequently, Bali, a tourist paradise, attracts many visitors from Australia.
The Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry told CNN that the luggage of the offending traveler contained a range of undeclared products with high disease-spreading potential, including fast food. These items were detected by airport sniffer dogs.
"This may be the most expensive breakfast this passenger has ever had to pay. The fine is double the cost of a flight from Bali to Australia. However, this is a necessary measure to protect public health," said Murray Watt, Australia's Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, in a statement.
Accordingly, the statement confirmed that the passenger was carrying 12 items in their luggage that posed a high risk of spreading infectious diseases. These products were all recalled and inspected before being destroyed.
"Australia currently has no FMD cases, and we are trying to control the situation as closely as possible," Murray Watt stated.
In July, Australia's federal government announced a $9.8 million biosecurity package. This included new measures being implemented across the country's borders.
International airports such as Darwin and Cairns are equipped with sanitary floor mats and sniffer dogs. In addition, travelers arriving from outbreak areas in Indonesia will be subject to stricter monitoring and screening than other passengers to ensure safety, emphasized the Australian Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. Experts estimate that a foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in Australia could cause economic damage of up to US$80 billion to the country.
