RoadRunner
26th January 2005, 01:52 AM
I would really appreciate help from fellow forum members on the MAF process! I have been reading the list of prohibited items and my first take is that over half of my household goods are restricted/banned! :eek
I was hoping that those of you who have gone through this could share specifics with the rest of us. If we can't come up with the answers, I'll email MAF and then post their answer here. [If there is some document I missed that clearly lays out all of the cleaning requirements, please post a link here!]
Here goes:
Wooden items
Do you simply declare wooden items for them to inspect to ensure they are bug free? Or do you have to clean them with something first (if so, what?). Are certain wooden items banned?
This seems like an overly broad category. A quick stock of my "wooden" items include: wood furniture, wood knife blocks, wood cutting boards, wood-handled knives, wood cooking utensils, wood salad bowls, wood objets d’art (e.g., decorative wood bowls), wood picture frames, piece of cedar for hanging a rug, cedar blocks for clothes/shoes, decorative wooden ladder. Do they seriously want all of these items declared?
Straw items
From MAF: Items containing straw are allowed into New Zealand after either heat or chemical treatment.
How do you do this "treatment?" Do you need a certificate to show you have done this? Does this restriction apply to all baskets, plates, objects with straw detailing, etc.?
Gardening/Outdoor Items
I've seen many references to "cleaning" any outdoor item (hiking shoes, garden furniture, etc.). I've also seen reference on this forum to Jeyes Fluid but the MAF Web site does not indicate HOW to clean these items. Can't you just use soap and water?
Foodstuffs (herbs, spices and dried goods)
Are you allowed to ship spices or other cans/boxes of food? Does it matter if the spices have been opened?
Medicines
I read that prescription drugs are banned. Surely this does not apply to an individual's personal prescription (say a 3-month supply)? What about OTC items (e.g., Tylenol)?
Feathers
What do you do about feather pillows, comforters, etc.? Are they banned? Can they be dry-cleaned and simply declared?
Rugs
I have several Mexican rugs and one treasured Navajo rug. Again, simply declare? Do they have to be cleaned (how, dry cleaning?)? I'm terribly afraid of doing anything to the Navajo rug - has anyone brought anything like that into NZ?
Christmas decorations
Why do they want these declared? Are they really going to unwrap each and every ornament? Are they banned? Don't get it.
Wool Sweaters
Are these an issue?
Is there some other major category that I missed that people want info about?
Thanks so much for any info!!
RoadRunner
I was hoping that those of you who have gone through this could share specifics with the rest of us. If we can't come up with the answers, I'll email MAF and then post their answer here. [If there is some document I missed that clearly lays out all of the cleaning requirements, please post a link here!]
Here goes:
Wooden items
Do you simply declare wooden items for them to inspect to ensure they are bug free? Or do you have to clean them with something first (if so, what?). Are certain wooden items banned?
This seems like an overly broad category. A quick stock of my "wooden" items include: wood furniture, wood knife blocks, wood cutting boards, wood-handled knives, wood cooking utensils, wood salad bowls, wood objets d’art (e.g., decorative wood bowls), wood picture frames, piece of cedar for hanging a rug, cedar blocks for clothes/shoes, decorative wooden ladder. Do they seriously want all of these items declared?
Straw items
From MAF: Items containing straw are allowed into New Zealand after either heat or chemical treatment.
How do you do this "treatment?" Do you need a certificate to show you have done this? Does this restriction apply to all baskets, plates, objects with straw detailing, etc.?
Gardening/Outdoor Items
I've seen many references to "cleaning" any outdoor item (hiking shoes, garden furniture, etc.). I've also seen reference on this forum to Jeyes Fluid but the MAF Web site does not indicate HOW to clean these items. Can't you just use soap and water?
Foodstuffs (herbs, spices and dried goods)
Are you allowed to ship spices or other cans/boxes of food? Does it matter if the spices have been opened?
Medicines
I read that prescription drugs are banned. Surely this does not apply to an individual's personal prescription (say a 3-month supply)? What about OTC items (e.g., Tylenol)?
Feathers
What do you do about feather pillows, comforters, etc.? Are they banned? Can they be dry-cleaned and simply declared?
Rugs
I have several Mexican rugs and one treasured Navajo rug. Again, simply declare? Do they have to be cleaned (how, dry cleaning?)? I'm terribly afraid of doing anything to the Navajo rug - has anyone brought anything like that into NZ?
Christmas decorations
Why do they want these declared? Are they really going to unwrap each and every ornament? Are they banned? Don't get it.
Wool Sweaters
Are these an issue?
Is there some other major category that I missed that people want info about?
Thanks so much for any info!!
RoadRunner