Going to France in August. We just need a dinner the first night and stock up next day at whichever supermarket is convenient. It seems meat, fresh or canned, and dairy products are not allowed. We normally have home made spag bol the first night. Do they actually check?!
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Importing food into France
- Thread starter Alanbrooke
- Start date
Whyvbreak the rules deliberately? We wouldn’t appreciate if Europeans broke ours would we? Do they check ……yes, but not all vehicles. Try a vegetable, or fish dish instead.
Guess you're right OC (we've been on posts in the past). We make a nice spag bol wth lentils!
Good to know. Are you still living in Germany, Lutz?
I agree with Lutz....never been checked for food or anything other than passports when entering France.
Modern trucks that operate internationally will have driver's fridges in their cabs.....imagine checking all of those!
Modern trucks that operate internationally will have driver's fridges in their cabs.....imagine checking all of those!
We became different status since we officially left the EU. Of course you wouldn’t have been checked before then. The rules don’t only apply to commercial consignments. Show me where it says that?
Taking animal products, food or plants with you in the EU - Your Europe
Rules on carrying meat, dairy and fish products in the EU, restrictions when travelling from a non-EU country; quantities allowed, information on exceptions, baby milk and food for medical reasons; products not allowed; information on controls and when entering the EU
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Why are so many so happy to admit they break the rules. Regardless of why the rules are there, they are rules, and you cant assume than because others may have got away with illegally importing contraband, It doesn't mean you will be so lucky. It's just like speeding you know it's wrong and what the consequences may be if your caught, just avoid the problem by following the rules, then there is no risk.
It's only idiots who brazenly choose to break the laws.
It's only idiots who brazenly choose to break the laws.
.....well this idiot who actually owns a caravan and takes it to France endeavoured to answer the OPs question.
I didn't feel the need to lecture the OP and will brazenly have milk in my caravan fridge during my upcoming trip to France.
I didn't feel the need to lecture the OP and will brazenly have milk in my caravan fridge during my upcoming trip to France.
Many people take food to the continent for their own use and it seems customs do not bother with checking caravan fridges etc for flood as they are more interested in commercial loads. If we were going to the continent, one of things we would definitely take if going to France is enough Weetabix, bacon and pet food for at least 4 weeks. Plus of course other food for at least 2 days lunches & dinners
We used to pack the fridge, have up to 30 kg of dried dog food etc, but then we were in the EU and were under a common set of bio security regulations. Since we left in 2020 we are classed as Third Country which is subject to different rules. Hence why our Pet Passports scheme changed too. Hopefully under the HMG Reset talks things might go some way to what they were. Not to specifically to help caravanners but businesses. .
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I think this topic has now run its course. Thanks for your input guys.
Alan
Alan
Anyone planning to bring meat or dairy into the UK from the EU should be aware that because of Foot and Mouth in Europe we now have restrictions even of personal imports. Tough luck of you like cassoulet or saucisson sec 😂
www.gov.uk
Bringing food into Great Britain
The rules on bringing food or animal products into Great Britain from abroad: restrictions, types of food and the amount you can bring.
The only things we have brought back into the UK from the EU has been fruit.Anyone planning to bring meat or dairy into the UK from the EU should be aware that because of Foot and Mouth in Europe we now have restrictions even of personal imports. Tough luck of you like cassoulet or saucisson sec 😂
Bringing food into Great Britain
The rules on bringing food or animal products into Great Britain from abroad: restrictions, types of food and the amount you can bring.
It would need a really overzealous customs officer to take exception to the small amounts of food for personal consumption in the caravan fridge. Besides, the contents of the fridge will never come into contact with anything or anyone other than the occupants of the vehicle itself, so where is the danger?
In over 60 years of crossing the Channel, including 35 years of towing the caravan, I‘ve never been asked about the contents of the fridge or food within the car, neither on the French side nor upon entering the UK, even during genuine emergencies such as the bird flu or during the BSE outbreak.
In over 60 years of crossing the Channel, including 35 years of towing the caravan, I‘ve never been asked about the contents of the fridge or food within the car, neither on the French side nor upon entering the UK, even during genuine emergencies such as the bird flu or during the BSE outbreak.
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I’m not saying I agree with the rules but that’s no reason to disrespect them.
Mel
Moderator
We once got “searched”. Many years ago ( c2005) we were in our motorhome, waiting to board the ferry from Caen. It was delayed. Next thing a couple of gendarmes turned up and wanted to have a look in the Moho. Asked us if we had any knives; so I obligingly showed them the cutlery drawer containing a bread knife and chopping knife. They had a cursory look around and left. I have no idea what that was about apart from the fact that our 7 year foster son ( who was still a work in progress 😀) was having an almighty screaming meltdown and going for my teenage offspring and me shouting at him Stop you are hurting him.
Maybe someone rang them, although you could probably have heard him in Paris! Of course he shut up immediately the gendarmes boarded, for which I was grateful .
Mel
Maybe someone rang them, although you could probably have heard him in Paris! Of course he shut up immediately the gendarmes boarded, for which I was grateful .
Mel
If you read the
"Promoting or describing any illegal or illicit activity is prohibited. "
Unless the EU's regulations state the ban on food stuffs does not apply to caravans and motorhomes, you cannot afford to ignore them.
Practical Caravan Official Community Rules
the 6th clause begins and states"Promoting or describing any illegal or illicit activity is prohibited. "
Unless the EU's regulations state the ban on food stuffs does not apply to caravans and motorhomes, you cannot afford to ignore them.
Please point out one poster that it promoting any illegal or illicit activity so get off your righteous high horse. Have you never committed a traffic offence like exceeding the speed limit? Same thing.
What people have said is that it appears customs take no notice of goods brought into the EU by visitors from the UK due to it being small quantities and have mentioned their own experience. Nothing wrong with mentioning first hand experiences as it is then up to the individual to decide.
What people have said is that it appears customs take no notice of goods brought into the EU by visitors from the UK due to it being small quantities and have mentioned their own experience. Nothing wrong with mentioning first hand experiences as it is then up to the individual to decide.
Blimey! Someone is trying to be holier than the Pope.
Anyway, no-one was actually promoting illegal activity. They just said that they don't follow the rules by the letter, but leave it to others to make their own decision. Nobody has told others what they should or should not do.
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There are posts where the members say what they would take if they were going to Europe, and the items to be taken clearly breach the EU rules.
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What an individual does is surely their concern and their problem if they get caught and are admonished. Just because they are doing it, that is not promoting illegal activity and anyway surely we have moderators who can make the decision if a post is contravening guidelines?
......I get searched every time prior to boarding a ferry back to the UK.
The French customs officers search car and caravan for stowaways and have never been looking or asking about food items or examing the fridge.
I've only ever been stopped to show passports on entering France......no actual searches.
If I was searched they would find around 1 pint of milk for personal tea and coffee making and I would be guilty as charged!
Currently since brexit passports are stamped to track the 90 day rule and the French require Advance Passenger Information.
The French customs officers search car and caravan for stowaways and have never been looking or asking about food items or examing the fridge.
I've only ever been stopped to show passports on entering France......no actual searches.
If I was searched they would find around 1 pint of milk for personal tea and coffee making and I would be guilty as charged!
Currently since brexit passports are stamped to track the 90 day rule and the French require Advance Passenger Information.
Why would French officers search a car for foodstuffs about to enter the UK?
Our caravan was searched on three occasions leaving Dunkerque by UK Border Force officers. Very thourough too. Every car in the waiting area was searched prior to boarding. But of course in those days movement of foodstuffs and plants wasn’t restricted, unless prohibitions were put in place to address particular issues.
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