I bought 3 1950’s lead toy soldiers from the US. They have been stopped at Australian customs return

[tankycat]

I recently bought 3 lead soldiers made in 1950’s from a eBay sellers in the US.

They have been stopped at Customs here in Australia and returned back to the seller. 
apparently any toys with lead in them are restricted illegal to export from the USA and illegal to import into Australia. 
this is crazy, these are vintage collectibles not kids toys and are sold widely 

[gutterpunkz05]

As the importer, it is your responsibility to ensure that the item is not prohibited, or that appropriate approval has been sought and is in place.

The importation of toys coated with a material which contains excess amounts of toxic compounds is prohibited under regulation 4(1) and item 2 in Schedule 2 of the Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulations 1956​, unless permission has been granted. Excess amounts of toxic compounds include more than:

1. 90 mg/kg of lead,
2. 25 mg/kg of **bleep**nic,
3. 60 mg/kg of antimony,
4. 75 mg/kg of cadmium,
5. 500 mg/kg of selenium,
6. 60 mg/kg of mercury,
7. 60 mg/kg of chromium, or
8. 1000 mg/kg of barium.

To import these toys, permission in writing is required from the Minister for Home Affairs, or an authorised person.

This permission must be produced to the Australian Border Force at or before the time of import.

More information

For more information on testing metals in toys, see the National Measurement Institute website.

Requests to import these goods should be addressed to permits@abf.gov.au.

[sandypebbles]

Why do you consider it crazy that things not allowed to be imported are stopped by customs?

Nothing to do with not being kids toys

Glad customs are on the ball

Rather like the person that posted not all that long ago complaining they tried to import plants they were not allowed to import and customs stopped them