Taking Food to Europe in your Fridge
Hello Motor-homers Does anyone know the updated information about what you can take to Europe (France) in your Fridge and Freezer from the UK? Some forums say no Dairy and Meat products, others say its ok to take these items
Also need to check if you need to turn your Fridge/Freezer off on the overnight ferry crossing We assume you would have to turn all gas off etc Any tips would be great Thanks
Christine and. Mike
Reply from the Community Manager 14/05/24
We know a lot of people are still searching for information on what food you can take to Europe and our overseas team are always happy to help our members. There are restrictions on the food that you can carry into the EU. You cannot take meat, milk or products containing them into the EU; there are some exceptions, e.g. certain amounts of powdered infant milk, infant food, special food or pet food required for medical reasons. You cannot take plants including fruit and vegetables with the exception of bananas, coconuts, dates, pineapples and durians.
I hope this helps and for more overseas travel advice including information on taking food to Europe in your motorhome or caravan please visit our Travelling in Europe after Brexit page. 
Comments
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Social media is not a good source much better to check with the appropriate authorities.
From the European Commission on food safety: LINK here
Legislation
The current rules are laid down in Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/2122Search for available translations of the preceding linkEN•••, which repeals and replaces the previously applicable Commission Regulation (EC) No 206/2009. This Regulation clearly explains to the general public the rules concerning the introduction of animal products into the EU. Namely:Travellers are not allowed to bring in meat, milk or their products, unless they are coming with less than 10 kilograms of these products from the Faeroe Islands or Greenland
You won’t be to keep your fridge running on the ferry, as you surmise gas cylinders have to be turned off. It would however if we were allowed to take anything stay cold enough. When we get round to going, I intend to cross with the fridge empty and switched off and shop at the end of the first day of travelling, by which time the fridge should have cooled down nicely.
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You must switch your gas off for the ferry and your fridge will then stop working.
Meat and meat products, milk and milk products are not accepted in the EU - if you happen to be the one of the few who are searched by French customs officers then those products may be confiscated.
If you would like to say where you are landing in France I can suggest shops which will be open.
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I don't imagine the regulations will change any time soon so we have to make the best of what we have. I suppose one advantage of an overnight crossing is that you have plenty of time to eat onboard the ferry and be ready for the first day in Europe. Also being in a motorhome you probably have an easier opportunity to pull into the first supermarket you see which might be a bit more difficult with a caravan in tow? Follow Steve's link which will give you the information you need and you may find there is more you can take than you imagine outside of the specific groups of products mentioned.
David
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The pragmatic response to this is to say that as far as my personal experience of travelling a few times recently to France, there are absolutely no customs checks of caravan fridges. My advice would be to carry on as usual . I certainly am. I would be very interested to hear of anyone who has been searched, no one I have spoken to has.
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I think the much publicised confiscation of a ham sandwich when the regulations came into force was actually in the Netherlands. They even had a handy TV news crew to hand to film and report on it!!! So perhaps the French are not so bothered?
David
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I usually take a freezer with home made goodies in the boot of the car. Next year I'm tempted to cross with an empty fridge incase I am checked and the freezer under cover in the boot.
Colin
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I was not in my motorhome, but in my car when I was hailed down by motorbike riding Douane just outside Rennes, on my way to the ferry at St Malo. This was pre-Brexit, in 2019.
They specifically asked to look in my cool box which was crammed with food stuffs including cheese, butter, milk and several vacuum packs of meat. At the time, according to my understanding, this was not a problem, as the current rules are post-Brexit, and certainly the two men who made a perfunctory search of the contents did not seem to be even remotely concerned. They told me they were looking for tobacco, of which I had none!
Anyway my point is - sometimes they do search and I am not at all sure I would use the word pragmatic to describe flouting these rules. It is hardly sensible or realistic.
As a matter of interest my neighbour who regularly travels to Belgium, as she has family there, insists that the rules about meat and dairy products has always been in place and not just since Brexit - if anyone knows the facts about this I shall be glad to hear them. Possibly Belgium had its own rules.
Someone will ask: why did I return with all that food? Because after a long time away I hate it when the first thing you have to do on return is a supermarket shop. I prefer to do it before I travel. But now, I can't!
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GrayDJames, You can. There are no restrictions on foodstuffs when returning to UK.
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We crossed via the tunnel at the begining of September, we were not stopped and searched.
Didn't see anyone getting stopped either.
We didn't take our usual freezer full but we did have ham, cheese, salad, butter, eggs and some fruit and veg. We had travelled down from Scotland and spent 5 days doing so. If we had been searched and goods confiscated it would have only been what was left.
As others said Gas has to be turned off.
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I think because of Covid they are not bothering especially as they would have to enter vehicles etc. No doubt once (if ever) its over they will enforce it a bit more but I am thinking random checks rather than everyone or they won't get anyone through the terminals.
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To follow up on Jamsdad's comment, we recently went to Southern Ireland (Holyhead to Dublin - Rosslare to Pembroke). There was no checking at all - neither for the wife and I nor for our two dogs. We had some dairy and meat items in the fridge and tins of dog food under the bed. Straight through check in - no customs control - just a happy smile and Welcome to Ireland!
For information only ....
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I've seen this link posted on a different forum. At face value it seems that we can take small amounts of food for personal consumption:
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg_del/2019/2122/oj
1. Products of animal origin and composite products are exempted from official controls at border control posts provided that:
(a)
they are intended for consumption by the crew and passengers on board means of transport operating internationally; and
(b)
they are not unloaded on Union territory.0 -
Sputnik, I am afraid we cannot interpret or advise you. It seems to be the personality of the traveller which decides. Some worry about the fine details of the law and fear that they will be arrested and fined. Others just go on their way. and take ready meals from home to see them through the first few days.
We ourselves would stock up with beer, food and wine At SuperU in St Pol de Leon an overnight crossing, from Plymouth and then go for lunch at Les Alyzes on the Roscoff waterfront as soon as they open at midday - but others would hold up their hands in horror at our wild extravagance.So you choose. Do it your way. And have a good trip.
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The problem with this is it is section a AND section b. Section b says can’t unload goods into the EU. As others have said here and elsewhere, as a third country, we cannot take meat, dairy and a lot of fruit. There are very few confirmed reports of inspections. You make your choice. I can remember in days gone by being very worried abot the amount of wine we had, calculating litre and 70cl bottles, and how many packets of coffee we were bringing back.
It’s life!0 -
About 20 years ago, returning home we were pulled in by the French customs on an A road somewhere in central France. He asked what we had in the way of wine, spirits and cigarettes. we had been to Spain and had both wine and cigarettes. Receipts? Of course I hadn’t saved them.
He covered his eyes and said “this time I do not see” and stepped out of the van, advising me to keep the receipts in future!
Never had any trouble going out or coming back Dover to Calais although we were once stopped at Dover by UK customs and asked if we had any knives or fire arms!
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We are over in France just now, this is the 4th time since Brexit.
I brought what I always bring, lots of meat. The prices over here have always been expensive but now it's extortionate.
It's only been 6mths since we were last here but the price rises are like back in the UK.
We came St Malo this time and was not stopped.
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we found the same, at Santander they did ask to look inside the caravan, but it was only a case of open the door, quick look inside the bathroom and the wardrobe and then the thumbs up.
Not familiar with French prices recently, but have noticed that prices in Spain are on the up, and electricity is very expensive, my guess is that this will soon be reflected in pitch prices.
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