Sending Christmas Decorations - Things You Need to Know

Forgive us for mentioning Christmas in October but as a shipping company, Seven Seas Worldwide have to plan ahead and, if you're sending items abroad this Christmas, so should you.

Let us ask you this: Are you sending any packages to friends or family living abroad this Christmas? Do the packages contain festive ornaments and decorations such as a Santa figurine or a traditional Christmas wreath? We're not ones to pry, we believe you should celebrate Christmas however you wish! The only problem is if you're sending these gifts to Australia and New Zealand, you may find that they will be sent back to you, or more likely, confiscated.

But why should this be? Are customs officials notably less festive than other citizens? Well no, that would be unfair. We're sure there are plenty of inspectors who come to work in December with tinsel round the brims of their hats. No, this is a simple reflection of Australia and New Zealand's stringent quarantine laws that prevent any item from entering the country that may be dirty or may have come into contact with the earth and not been sufficiently cleaned. From our experience, pine cones are very popular as part of Christmas ornaments and decorations, so if you're sending anything with pine cone adornment or similar, we urge you to think twice before sending.

Australian and New Zealand Quarantine laws also request that boots, camping equipment and other outdoor items are thoroughly cleaned before packing off and sending. Any evidence of dirt could mean the worse for your consignment. For more information, call a member of the team or visit our shipping pages.