Bringing in Aussie meat

corney

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Oct 31, 2025
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Moving to Bali for couple months trying out, after visiting a couple times.
most definitely want to bring sizable stash of meat and cheeses from Oz to last quite a while......

question is, how much do you reckon will be able to bring in? thinking along the lines of tens of kilo.....please, anyone who's "been there done that" got any helpful tips? checked baggage vs hand luggage, declare or not, limits etc. Bali vs Jakarta point of entry etc.

any help in this regard very much appreciated....

Thanks
 
  • Raw food (vegetables, fruits, seeds, and meat): Requires permission from Quarantine authorities in the country of origin and Indonesia.
Please note that goods of quarantine concern, such as animals, fish, and plants, must have quarantine permissions from both the country of origin and Indonesia. Or else they cannot pass.

  • Arrest and deportation: Attempting to smuggle restricted agricultural or animal products can lead to serious consequences. In addition to confiscation, you may be arrested, fined, and even deported.
You can check this link for a more comprehensive outline.


Your idea reminds me of those Border control videos with so many Chinese entering Australia, signing the customs declaration as not having food. And then their suitcases are opened and the bags are packed with food.
 
Moving to Bali for couple months trying out, after visiting a couple times.
most definitely want to bring sizable stash of meat and cheeses from Oz to last quite a while......

question is, how much do you reckon will be able to bring in? thinking along the lines of tens of kilo.....please, anyone who's "been there done that" got any helpful tips? checked baggage vs hand luggage, declare or not, limits etc. Bali vs Jakarta point of entry etc.

any help in this regard very much appreciated....

Thanks
Please see point a. in custom declaration Form. People might be lucky, the custom official do not check it. So it is up to you whether you want to take your chance


Custom Limit $500 In declation Form - Copy.jpg
 
thanks everyone for your input,
very much appreciated.

I am under the impression that it is not at all unheard of to do.....

If something has to be declared, does that mean that there is an automatic confiscation?
or there are some allowances made, provided it is declared?

Many thanks
 
thanks everyone for your input,
very much appreciated.

I am under the impression that it is not at all unheard of to do.....

If something has to be declared, does that mean that there is an automatic confiscation?
or there are some allowances made, provided it is declared?

Many thanks
You don't get it! You have to declare everything! It is only confiscated if you broke the Law somehow!
 
therein lies my question, what are the limits, if any?
You should look up the limitations on each item, on the Indonesian Customs website! If you want to bring in Kilo's of meat, you will probably have to have a special permit! For some reason, the cost of imported Beef, from anywhere, is ridiculously overpriced! They can bring in Tons of Chinese plastic Crap for cheap, why is Meat so Expensive? Australia is not that far away for a large Cargo ship. Who is making this Meat so Expensive? Is it the Farmers, the Aussie Government, Freight, The Indonesian Government, the Middleman.The stores here, And why do they only bring in Meat tough as Boot leather? Someone along the way is making an outragious Profit! I refuse to pay these Prices! I can understand these type of Cattle need cooler temperature's, so raise them in the Mountains. Indonesia has higher cooler climates, if that is what's needed. They could buy high quality breedstock if they wanted! Australia, and America, bought High Quality Wagyu cattle, fro Japan, why doesn't someone from Indonesia do the same? Someone with knowledge on this subject,
 
thanks everyone for your input,
very much appreciated.

I am under the impression that it is not at all unheard of to do.....

If something has to be declared, does that mean that there is an automatic confiscation?
or there are some allowances made, provided it is declared?

Many thanks
No allowance, immediate confiscation and goods should be destroyed.
You can request to witness the destroying of the goods seized. It's often at a later date so you must have time to waste to insist on witnessing it if you really intend to do so.
However, I know "someone" who insisted and "for some reason" was "authorized" to keep a negotiated part of his shipment.
I certainly don't advise to try, If you loose part of it while going to Bali the net cost of your cheese and meat would certainly exceed what it would cost you purchasing it.
Whatever you decide, a good command of bahasa Indonesia and a cool, friendly, polite attitude while dealing with Indonesian often open doors which may not be supposed to be open.
 
why is Meat so Expensive? Australia is not that far away for a large Cargo ship. Who is making this Meat so Expensive? Is it the Farmers, the Aussie Government, Freight, The Indonesian Government, the Middleman.The stores here, And why do they only bring in Meat tough as Boot leather
I think (read, I am sure) it has been explained in a past thread.
 
No allowance, immediate confiscation and goods should be destroyed.
You can request to witness the destroying of the goods seized. It's often at a later date so you must have time to waste to insist on witnessing it if you really intend to do so.
However, I know "someone" who insisted and "for some reason" was "authorized" to keep a negotiated part of his shipment.
I certainly don't advise to try, If you loose part of it while going to Bali the net cost of your cheese and meat would certainly exceed what it would cost you purchasing it.
Whatever you decide, a good command of bahasa Indonesia and a cool, friendly, polite attitude while dealing with Indonesian often open doors which may not be supposed to be open.
Hi Atlantis,

thanks for the helpful advice.

you reckon that they will even pull me over to begin with? I wonder what the odds are....
do they x ray and/or check bags before baggage carousel?

many thanks again
 
Hi Atlantis,

thanks for the helpful advice.

you reckon that they will even pull me over to begin with? I wonder what the odds are....
do they x ray and/or check bags before baggage carousel?

many thanks again
See this

1762698480389.png


Like in other countries, they sometimes do random checks using X-rays, inspect bags, or even use trained dogs on some occasions.

If you want to know the probability (officially), who do you think would actually bother funding the research or publishing statistics about something like this?

I haven’t come across any news or social media posts about people being arrested for bringing in meat, fish, or plant products. However, I’ve heard that some are fined for not declaring them, especially in large quantity. In Indonesia, arguably there is an interest for custom official to catch those offenders to top up their own salaries. Arrests usually happen in more serious offenses such as involving smuggling of protected animals, drugs, and similar offenses.
 
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Hi Atlantis,

thanks for the helpful advice.

you reckon that they will even pull me over to begin with? I wonder what the odds are....
do they x ray and/or check bags before baggage carousel?

many thanks again
No statistics exist on the odds to be pulled over. It happens and this should be known.

All luggages are scanned BEFORE reaching the carousel and those raising interest are marked for checking at the exit. A second scan is usually performed for all cabin lugages at the exit.

Also, custom officers, often in plain clothes, would pick some people because something in their behavior, luggage size, traveling route, dll have raised their interest.

If you really intend to bring "along the lines of tens of kilo" it would require a particularly sleepy officer in front of the scan to miss it imho.

Just carry what you can afford to loose without feeling bad afterward if it happens. It's what I do. It also helps to stay cool and considerate if pulled over. I usually make sure I don't show sign of stress in order not to open the door to be racketed.

I just came back from SIN two weeks ago through CGK with 20 kg of premium quality basmati rice for the house, which is unfortunately impossible to find in Manado where I live, and about 30 bags of seeds (herbs like parsley, thyme, oregano, peppermint, basil, dll) to be planted in our greenhouses.

The rice attracted attention at the scanner which was no surprise, an officer came to me and asked what it was. I opened the luggage, show him the basmati bags and proceed to explain him the difference between basmati and other rice. I complimented Indonesian rice but explained that basmati was simply different in fragrance, length, amount of starch, fluffiness, dll., that I love cooking and that it was what I needed for my biryani.

After 2 or 3 minutes, probably less, I could feel that he was maintaining the discussion much more because he was finding funny a bule giving him tips, in bahasa Indonesia, about rice and Indian cuisine than out of any intent of creating problem.

Funnily enough the whole culinary discussion probably occulted the seeds which are traditionally as problematic than dairies or meat due to tight restrictions.
 
I suggest that if you want to bring in a large quanity of Meats, look at the immiagration and Customs Website, on how much you are legally allowed to bring in.look if there is a permit you can buy to bring in Let's say 20 kilo's, or is that allowed without a permit. You don't want to lose a large amount of expensive meat! Same with Cheeses, or basically anything!
 
Am I to understand from this discussion and participation of Mods that certain illegal things are OK to discuss openly in the forum? Do we have a list of what those things are? To corney do what you want to do and let us know it turns out. It really seems that all you are wanting to hear is yes, it's OK.
 
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Am I to understand from this discussion and participation of Mods that certain illegal things are OK to discuss openly in the forum? Do we have a list of that those things are? To corney do what you want to do and let us know it turns out. It really seems that all you are wanting to hear is yes, it's OK.
No one mentioned drugs, as far as I know. The topic was how much meat and cheeses, basically all foods, can be brought in legally?
 
No one mentioned drugs, as far as I know. The topic was how much meat and cheeses, basically all foods, can be brought in legally?
What part about confiscate and destroy makes it sound legal or like a good idea? Fresh meat, cheese, dairy and plants are a big no-no.
 
I have brought in Italian Parmesan and Romano cheeses, as well as common mozzarella, pepperjack and Mexican style cheeses with no problem.
 
Am I to understand from this discussion and participation of Mods that certain illegal things are OK to discuss openly in the forum? Do we have a list of what those things are?
I am surprised that after 1.000 posts and a few years with us a poster discover that yes, we can discuss openly about overstay, riding without an helmet, the existence or not of God, criticizing the Indonesian government, or entering Indonesia with 2 tenderloins and 3 camembert, despite the fact that all of this highly subversive activities are illegal (and perhaps even big no-no) in Indonesia.

Personally I consider that people joining this forum are grown adults, even though sometimes some questions asked have me wondering if I am not too enthusiastic. :)
 

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