Importing food into France

[Alanbrooke]

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?!

 

[otherclive]

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?!

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.

 

[Alanbrooke]

Guess you're right OC (we've been on posts in the past). We make a nice spag bol wth lentils!

 

[Lutz]

The rules are made with commercial importation of whole lorryloads of food in mind. Nobody is interested in the puny amounts contained in a caravan fridge.

 

[Alanbrooke]

Good to know. Are you still living in Germany, Lutz?

 

[Gafferbill]

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!

 

[otherclive]

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!

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

europa.eu

 

[ProfJohnL]

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.

 

[Gafferbill]

.....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.

 

[Buckman]

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

 

[otherclive]

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. .

 

[Alanbrooke]

I think this topic has now run its course. Thanks for your input guys.
Alan

 

[otherclive]

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.

www.gov.uk

 

[Buckman]

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.

www.gov.uk

The only things we have brought back into the UK from the EU has been fruit.

 

[Lutz]

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.