A jasmine garland&hellip; and a jaw-dropping fine. That&rsquo;s the unusual tale Malayalam actor Navya Nair shared during Onam festivities in Melbourne. Invited by the Malayali Association of Victoria, she recounted how her father lovingly prepared a 15 cm jasmine string for her journey&mdash;from Kochi to Singapore, and then on to Melbourne. He split the garland in two: one for the flight, one for later in her handbag.
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But at Melbourne International Airport, the delicate bloom triggered a serious backlash. Officials fined her AUD 1,980(approx. Rs 1.14 lakh) for carrying the jasmine&mdash;a striking reminder that ignorance is no excuse. &ldquo;A mistake is a mistake&hellip; they told me the fine must be paid within 28 days,&rdquo; she chuckled, noting wryly that her jasmine turned out costlier than gold.
Australia is notoriously uncompromising when it comes to plant-based imports. Its biosecurity measures aim to ward off foreign pests and diseases, with fines ranging up to AUD 5,500 for concealed seeds or plant cuttings. In one case, four travellers collectively faced $22,000 in infringement notices for cleverly disguised plant material. One passenger even received $3,300 plus visa cancellation for undeclared meat and donkey glue.Another traveller at Brisbane airport was fined $5,500 for hidden seeds&mdash;the first 20-point infringement under new regulations
But Australia isn&rsquo;t alone. New Zealand, too, does not take kindly to offenders: a visitor arriving in Auckland undeclared plant cuttings and seeds was fined NZD 3,300 by a court for risking the kiwifruit industry.
The United States approach is slightly more accommodating. Cut flowers such as roses and carnations may be permitted, but must be declared and pass inspection&mdash;non-compliance can lead to civil or criminal penalties.
The European Union has tighter constraints on cut flowers and plants arriving from outside the EU&mdash;they generally require a phytosanitary certificate, and unaccompanied plant imports in passenger luggage are prohibited without it.
Other regions, including Canada, permit cut flowers on domestic flights, but international entries often come with inspections or documentation requirements&mdash;check the Automated Import Reference System (AIRS) before travelling.
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<h4 data-start="3224" data-end="3250">Why Does This Matter?</h4>
These stories underscore a vital lesson for travellers: always check local biosecurity rules before flying internationally with flowers, plants, or seeds. A seemingly innocent gesture&mdash;like a jasmine garland&mdash;can transform into a costly oversight.
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Navya Nair with jasmine gajra in hair (file photo)

From Australia to Japan, nations impose strict airport rules on flowers, plants, seeds

Navya Nair Fined Over Jasmine Gajra

From Australia to Japan, nations impose strict airport rules on flowers, plants, seeds

September 8, 2025 | 10:15 IST