Food to France

Paulss
Paulss Forum Participant Posts: 8

Does anyone have experience of taking some food to France, post Brexit?

My OH wants to take teabags, marmalade, shredded wheat and sugar.

 

Comments

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,299 ✭✭✭
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    edited December 2022 #2

    You can take all of those, it is meat and dairy products that you are not supposed to take.

  • RedKite
    RedKite Club Member Posts: 1,717 ✭✭
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    edited December 2022 #3

    I have looked up these products and all seems ok to bring to France.

    We live in France and came to the UK earlier this year and had no problems with cereal tea bags and diabetic jams either way. If you look on the UK government website for travelling to France this should help you.

  • Tammygirl
    Tammygirl Club Member Posts: 7,957 ✭✭✭
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    edited December 2022 #4

    We have been over to France 3 times since Brexit. First time I was careful, the last twice I've just taken whatever food I wanted, there was no checks whatsoever.We

    Having said that it's each persons choice, the official line is no meat etc  but if it's for personal use I've not heard of anyone having good taken off them.

  • Kasspa
    Kasspa Forum Participant Posts: 359
    edited December 2022 #5

    We found this also..... only took food to see us over a couple of days just in case but could've gone fully loaded....

    On our return, the only 'contraband' they looked for were the human kind smile

  • eurortraveller
    eurortraveller Club Member Posts: 6,828 ✭✭✭
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    edited December 2022 #6

    Take them by all means ,but if you run out three of the four are plentiful in supermarkets in France.

  • eribaMotters
    eribaMotters Club Member Posts: 1,193 ✭✭✭✭
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    edited December 2022 #7

    The official line is no meat or dairy. I posted in another thread a copy of an e-mail I received from EuropeDirectContactCentre@edcc.ec.europa.eu. It said:-

    "Thank you for contacting the Europe Direct Contact Centre.

    Following your enquiry, we wish to inform you that if you are travelling in the European Union (EU) you can carry meat or dairy products with you as long as they are for your own personal consumption"

    They did the bit in bold, not me. It is possible to interpret this two ways,

    I'll leave it up to you, as only you can decide if you wish to take such foodstuffs.

    What is fact, is I'm at present unaware through personal contact on campsites, through camping forums or from friends with French homes, that anybody has been stopped regarding dairy and meat foodstuffs. 

    If you were to be stopped I believe the legal situation would be confiscation.

    In June I took a freezer full of food to France via P&O at Dover. No checks were made other than the usual paperwork.

    You will probably have many replies saying foodstuffs are readily available in France, so do not worry, but others will say they desire the convenience of having a few meals or favourite items.

     

    Colin

  • montesa
    montesa Forum Participant Posts: 168
    edited December 2022 #8

    fwiw …

    Agree with above, never heard of issues with general public / Tourers.
    I feel just be sensible.
    30 kgs of Bacon on board for a two week trip and it’s clearly going to get sold on. Personal food no problem. 
    Note we are not within the EU anymore.
    M

    I think it started as another Tabloid story from early days of a Wagon driver’s Ham sandwich confiscation which then got expanded & passed on like err the true story of the Couple who got knock out gassed overnight in a lay-bye by robbers. ……

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,299 ✭✭✭
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    edited December 2022 #9

    I think it started as another Tabloid story from early days of a Wagon driver’s Ham sandwich confiscation which then got expanded & passed on like err the true story of the Couple who got knock out gassed overnight in a lay-bye by robbers. ……

    Wether or not folk are being stopped, or choose to take meat and dairy products to the EU when on holiday is not really the point. Which is that such imports are prohibited.

    From the European Commission Website:-

    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

    What sanctions, if any, they would choose to take if they started to take a hardline are not spelt out anywhere that I can find.

  • bandgirl
    bandgirl Forum Participant Posts: 440
    100 Comments
    edited January 2023 #10

    I’m pleased to find this thread as we’re thinking of taking our caravan to northern France later in the year.  Although we’ve travelled throughout France, Belgium and Holland in the past, this will be our first venture since Brexit.  I came across a comment on social media stating that one can’t take food with you into France, so I looked at all the government advice and EU regulations but was still unsure about certain items.  We always keep a supply of tea, coffee, sugar, salt, seasoning etc. in the caravan and replace as necessary, and take some rations to last a couple of days with us until we can go shopping.  I think this discussion indicates that we can get away with taking the above items and maybe something to eat for the journey/on arrival.  I believe there’s a food store very close to the site we’re considering.

  • eribaMotters
    eribaMotters Club Member Posts: 1,193 ✭✭✭✭
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    edited January 2023 #11

    bandgirl,

    if you have a spare day you might like to read this:-

    https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eur/2019/2122

     

    Colin

  • allanandjean
    allanandjean Forum Participant Posts: 2,401
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    edited January 2023 #12

    We have a simple approach to the 'taking food' issue.

    We have only ever taken what's left in the fridge, plus bacon, we enjoy a lovey meal on the way there on the ferry and plan our first fuel stop at a supermarket with cafe/restaurant.

    After that, its as eurortraveller says.

  • Barry Jones
    Barry Jones Forum Participant Posts: 33
    edited January 2023 #13

    Leaving for Southern Spain on 15th Jan, first time back since 2020, really glad I read this thread. Will take what we would normally take in the fridge, many thanks...

  • bandgirl
    bandgirl Forum Participant Posts: 440
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    edited January 2023 #14

    Very useful, thank you Colin.  I’ve had a quick look.  Needs a bit of time to read and digest (no pun intended).  Certainly much more comprehensive than on the gov page I read previously.

  • Paulss
    Paulss Forum Participant Posts: 8
    edited June 2023 #15

    Thanks for all of the replies.

    As it happens, crossing from Poole to Cherbourg, we were not even asked about any food on board.

    Might risk taking a couple of day's supplies next time…