Tougher border controls following SBS investigation into food imports

Tougher border controls have been put in place to prevent the importation of rice products containing banned chemical residue, following an investigation by SBS Radio Punjabi.

Last year, an investigation by SBS Radio Punjabi revealed dangerous and banned foods were being imported from India and sold in Australian supermarkets.

The findings led the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources to begin an investigation, which found a banned agricultural chemical residue in one rice product at low levels.

Crossbench Senator Nick Xenophon has criticised the government for its lax stance on food imports.

"What this is showing is a systemic problem when it it comes to food imports, that we have lax standards, we don't have rigorous quality assurance, he said. 

"We allow stuff into this country that would be unacceptable if an Australian food producer was manufacturing food like this."

In a statement provided to SBS, the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources said "the department has advised the importing government of the detection and has increased border inspections of that importer's rice consignments"

The SBS investigation also revealed herbal supplement Kamini, which is prohibited in Australia, was being imported into the country.

SBS commissioned lab testing of the tablets, which revealed each contains up to 5 per cent opium, a highly addictive substance.

Senator Xenophon says fact that the product is found to contain traces of opioids is very concerning.

"Where is our biosecurity framework to make sure these sorts of tablets aren't allowed into the country?" he said.

A Sydney man, who wants to stay anonymous, heard about herbal supplement Kamini while working at a chicken factory in Griffith.

He says a colleague told him the tablets allow people to work long hours without getting tired.

"When I went to work, I was working over there without feeling tired or anything, so I was feeling more energetic so slowly I started taking this pills," he said. 

It wasn't long before an addiction kicked in.

"Slowly, slowly I was taking but getting more addicted. When I wake in the morning, this thing was first thing in my mind."

The SBS investigation revealed the tablets can be purchased at a number of South Asian grocery stores across the country.

The Sydney man says they're not hard to find. 

 "I say you can find everywhere, if one shop, they don't have, another shop they will have. Anywhere, like any any shop they will have," he said. 

Border Force says importations of Kamini tablets have been detected at Australia's borders and it is being referred to the Federal Police for further investigation.