Taking food into France
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The EU stance on taking food into the EU is that if it is purely for personal consumption then there is no problem, milk, cheese meat etc can all be carried so long as it is not in commercial quantity. There is another thread on this including a link to the official EU statement.
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Thanks JS. I was wondering the same. In the early Brexit days, I heard stories of border officials confiscating the ham out of lorry drivers sandwiches, oh, and the bread too! Taking a straw poll of the replies here, I'm probs going to take what is left in the fridge and restock on route.
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Sorry, this has been discussed lots before and I think it’s obviously up to everyone whether they follow the rules, but there is a common misunderstanding as expressed here.
As we are no longer an EU country the rule that applies to people in the UK is this:
‘You cannot take meat, milk or products containing them into EU countries.‘ uk.gov website.
The rule that says it’s ok to take those things for personal consumption only applies to people going from one EU country to another. That’s not us anymore.
as I said, it’s up to you whether you follow the rules
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All the evidence is that there is no reason to worry about taking a moderate amount of any foodstuffs in to the EU.No one has to my knowledge reported being search for foodstuffs so I don't think this is something to worry about. I certainly no something that has botheerd me in a number of trips to France.
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I've just realised, we Brits are starting to think like the French and do what we want. Life's to short to worry, we are still European inside.
Colin
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+1, European, Yorkshire, Brit👍🏻. I love everything European.
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While I’m a devotee of eating what the natives eat, there are a few issues accompanying post Brexit European travel. No meat means an end to our dog’s traditional diet. We’re fussy with his food so swapping to a different European diet isn’t ideal. We’ve weaned him onto a fish based diet in readiness. That first cuppa in France will need to be sans lait unless we stop to buy complete with our caravan, before lowering the legs on night one. Thick cut traditional bacon is out of bounds. Instead there’s fabulous cheese and delicious bread. No complaints there. As for border fridge checks, in all of my world travels, including Africa, India, the US, Asia, even Russia and of course Europe, I’ve only had my bags checked once, and that was by a dour faced Swiss border guard. However, should by some minute chance a fridge inspection take place in today’s sensitive boarder at Calais, and heaven forbid an evening meal of sausages be discovered, a more in depth search might take place. Better maybe to stick with the rules and enjoy a low fat Quorn Bolognaise just this once. Next day, a Deli indulgence beckons. It’s not ‘what can we get away with’, it’s why bother.
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I can only tell you that, like your wife, I took everything I would usually do with us. That included my 'spice drawer', (basically a whole drawer of herbs and spices, some hard to find in France) and meals for a couple of days after we arrived, plus 'staples''. We have done six crossings in the last couple of years, and never have we been checked, or questioned, or searched for 'illegal foods'. Everyone can and will make their own decision about the risks, and mine is that for us, it's worth it to have everything we need available straight away so we take it anyway, figuring that the worst that can happen is that it will be confiscated.
However, on the way back, this time, there was increased security at Dieppe because of a rise in the security risk (I presume due to the increased hostility in the middle east) and each and every car was searched with thoroughness, and a torch - some also with a dog. Passports were also checked at the Dieppe end by both French and UK customs, and also back in Newhaven by UK Passport control (this was explained by a message on the crossing, that it was an additional security measure. However, our customs official in Dieppe who did the search was not at all interested in our wine and didn't count the bottles (good job), explaining that he was looking for people exiting the country illegally or other really worrying stuff. I think the customs officials have more important things on their minds, at both ends, to confiscate your sandwiches as the bread may contain a milk or you might be smuggling in the odd cauliflower or meat product.
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