As more than a million Australians head overseas to take advantage of the European summer, the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service and the Australian Customs Service will be checking returning travellers and their luggage for prohibited items.

Australia has strict Customs and Quarantine regulations and travellers must declare medicines, weapons and duty free purchases, as well as food, plant material and animal products on their Incoming Passenger Card.

It's also important to declare shoes and sporting gear that could be carrying soil or seeds.

Most items will be returned, but some may need to be treated (at the traveller's expense) or confiscated.

Some medicines, weapons, and steroids may be legal in Europe but not in Australia. Customs also recommends that travellers should check their duty free allowance before they head overseas.

You could be prosecuted if you're caught with undeclared items. One traveller entering Australia recently was fined close to $3500 for trying to smuggle 1. 6 kilograms of lychees.

Remember, when you return to Australia you must:

• correctly fill out your Incoming Passenger Card
• declare and present for inspection all food, plant material, animal products and items used in freshwater streams or lakes
• place items that need to be declared in an easily accessible part of your luggage
• check the Customs duty-free concessions before you go shopping

Before leaving Australia, find out about Australia's Quarantine laws:

• ask your travel agent for a free copy of the brochure What Can't I Take Into Australia?
• visit www.aqis.gov.au
• call AQIS on 1800 020 504 (freecall)

For information on Customs prohibited and restricted items:

• visit www.customs.gov.au
• email information@customs.gov.au
• call the Customs Information and Support Centre on 1300 363 263