🐾 Pet food

Wet pet food in pouches or tins is treated as a liquid by security screeners, so containers over 100ml will be confiscated at the checkpoint rather than returned to you. Dry pet food kibble, on the other hand, passes through carry-on screening without any problem. If you are carrying wet food, transfer it to containers of 100ml or less and place them in your quart-sized liquids bag, or pack it in checked baggage.

Australia's biosecurity rules exist to protect its agricultural industry and native wildlife from foreign pests and diseases. Most commercial pet food — including sealed, branded products — is prohibited from entry without an import permit because it may contain meat or animal byproducts that could introduce pathogens. This is a customs biosecurity rule applied at the border, not an aviation security measure, and it is far stricter than anything the US, UK, EU, or Canada require.

Security screeners are focused on safety threats and will not question why you have pet food — their only concern is whether wet food exceeds the 100ml liquid limit. Customs officers at international destinations are a different matter: arriving in Australia or New Zealand with undeclared animal-based pet food can result in a fine, and the food will be seized. Always declare pet food on arrival cards and check the destination's biosecurity rules in advance.

For domestic travel, dry food in carry-on is completely unrestricted, and wet food in sealed containers under 100ml can go in your liquids bag. For international travel, the safest approach is to buy pet food at your destination rather than bring it from home, particularly when flying to Australia, New Zealand, or other countries with strict biosecurity rules. If you must bring food, carry only dry food and declare it at customs.