Taking food supplies to Spain
Hi everyone,
We are off to Portugal in a couple of weeks - Galacia ferry to Santander.
We know that there are restrictions on which foodstuff we can take into the EU.
Has anyone travelled this route recently and can advise us on whether the van is actually checked on arrival in Spain?
Do they check the fridge and food cupboards?
I'm not looking to massively break the rules, but it would be useful to carry some basics so we don't have to go straight to a supermarket.
Comments
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Brissie. Not been o'seas since the ban on food products but, as you probably know, meat, dairy products and fruit are all no. S....s law says that yours will be the caravan that is checked. So it looks as though you will have to make a stop in a supermarket soon after arrival. Don't know if they check fridges or cupboards but these are the rules. There are plenty of supermarkets in Santander!
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We went via the tunnel last September, never got checked other than to make sure the gas was turned off.
It wasn't busy at that time so maybe they were more relaxed. Didn't take my usual full fridge and freezer but I did have some bits and pieces in the fridge from our journey down from Scotland. If they had confiscated them it wouldn't have mattered anyway.
I would think once it gets busier we might see more checking being done.
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Once it gets busier will they be able to check all to enforce or will it be random spot checks in the hope of discouragement?
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Morning
We went to Spain back in October. No checks at Santander at all except the civil guards on the way out were looking at UK vehicles to see if they had beam deflectors on headlights.
At Bilbao, the guards were checking trailer registrations but nothing else.
Back at Portsmouth the UK border force looked in van to check for stowaways, they did open the fridge door but closed it straight away.
I'm with AD,
JK
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I reckon we will err on the side of caution.
Not work the risk (however small) of a fine.
It's quite tricky working out what we CAN take - the "rules" are too undefined - it looks simple superficially, but they are not clear.
So we will plan for a first night at a campsite with a restaurant, then we can shop later.
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Yes.
Depending on your destination there are lots of places you can get heinz salad cream
JK
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Checking the need for beam deflectors must be a it & miss affair. When I last went to France a few yrs back no deflectors were needed as there were levers inside the HID headlights to give a flat symmetrical beam. My ML can b adapted for "right hand traffic " from the dash
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Live dangerously. Take the salad cream.
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I really do not understand the fuss about this law, which is quite clear. Why not simply respect the law of the country you visit? There is no need to break the law.
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You cannot fit beam deflectors to HID (Bi-xenon) or LED headlights - that is why these type of lights are adjusted via the on board computer. Also many halogen lights have a lever within the headlight casing to alter the beam to symmetric (flat) to conform with EU driving.
I wonder how many of the border guards actually know this? Or are they just being awkward.
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Currently in Gibraltar, 3rd trip since Brexit and a number of trips from here into Spain in that period. Apart from a bit more time stamping passports Spanish immigration have no interest whatsoever in what salad cream or other noxious substances you might be carrying. I’ve never expected a ‘cheery’ exchange with border guards and have never been disappointed.
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On this and other forums the general consensus appears to be one of restraint and not total compliance. Folk are not stocking up the fridge and freezer, but taking a meal or two and odd bits from the home fridge that would go off. If you get stopped then be prepared to loose them. if not stopped you are covered for your first night and a lie in on your first morning. This is my plan when out in June.
Colin
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"Give me your poor and huddled masses..." Yeah, right.
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Hi - we are planning our first overseas trip and will also err on the safe side and not take any food with us, but would like to get some groceries when we arrive. Commeras - you say there are 'plenty of supermarkets in Santander' - are they Motorhome friendly (ours 7.4 metres)? I guess an out-of-town store may be our best bet rather than a smaller place in the city? We will be heading out on the N623 - any thoughts?
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AD, that made me giggle because it reminded me of the time that my late MIL (travelling alone as an elderly lady) arrived in the USA to be met by a miserable rude git. Her response to his attitude was priceless .... "I am a visitor to your country young man, and I expect to be treated with courtesy and respect" After a few moments (looking nervous and blushing bright red!) his response was "Yes ma'am, welcome to the United States of America" .
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Out of town is best, preferably adjacent to the motorway, so it’s easy to get to. Use Google Maps to find supermarkets and then use Street View to check for height barriers. A big van will need double spaces and again Street View will help.
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We travelled out to Spain on the Santander route on 11 December and returned on February 26th - same route.
We had a fridge full of supposedly illegal goodies (Milk, Yoghurts, Cheese etc etc) but nobody checked us. The Guardia Civil were more interested in the dog passports and making sure they were legal.
On the way back similarly, Portsmouth Border Force were only really interested in checking the caravan for anyone who may have sneaked in - the fridge was right in front of him but of no interest.
Our view was that we would probably have thrown the "contraband" out had we not taken it with us and therefore if it was confiscated, we lost nothing ....
I notice that comment is made on Gibraltar. We went from our site near Estepona to Gib a few times. Please do remember to take your passport as that has to be stamped leaving Spain and also re-entering. Also, those reading should be aware that it seems the Spanish police are having a purge on all English registered cars to make sure that they are "legal". On one of our trips into Gib, in a British registered car, we were asked to pull over and a Customs official wanted my passport, the car log book and ticket. He took them and left us at the border for about 10 minutes, clearly checking the landing records. I was told that it your car was in Spain for more than 6 months, the police could impound and crush it!
So please do ensure you have your log book with you all the time when in Spain.
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I really think there is no need to worry about what foodstuffs you have in your fridge or caravan cupboards.
I have been following these discussions ever since these "regulations" were introduced and I have never ever seen a posting where someone had been searched and had their diary produce or anything else confiscated.
From personal experience of several trips to France, no one has ever shown the slightest interest in my fridge content, and I think this foodstuff regulation is a non issue for caravanners. There may indeed be a regulation, but no-one is enforcing it.
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This is just an observation to which I don't know the answer. If all that is likely to happen is that supposedly illegal food items are confiscated its unlikely to be much of a hardship. However is there a risk that there might be an accompanying fine for breaking the rules? I don't seem to recall that being mentioned if it exists?
David
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I must admit when I disembarked at Santander a few days ago I had some butter, a dribble of milk and some leftover ham for sandwiches I had been having for lunch while travelling to Portsmouth all of which are banned. I also had eggs, potatoes and porridge oats which are not.
The regulations are clear and could include a fine and/or prosecution: Europa Regs
No doubt somewhere someone will be caught out and if found to be taking the mickey with fridge, freezer and cupboards full of banned items they’ll be fined. The chances of it happening must be small, but happen it will - possibly.
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