Taking food to France

Surely the problem is that if you return to France the following year with the same vehicle its possible that you could be stopped, via ANPR,  and asked to pay the fine, especially if using the toll motorways ?

With regard to taking food into the EU, perhaps the issue is that it is an EU wide rule and unless individual countries put that into law the worst that can happen is that food items  could be confiscated but you are unlikely to suffer further consequences?

David

So, my memory is clearly as bad as I tell people as we arrived at Camping Village Badaccia on Lago Trasimeno and I was taken aback when a couple were passing and the guy said “I know who you are-you are Allan and Jean”

I clearly looked confused as he then explained they were David and Jenny or, as I might know him Commeyras a fellow CT poster!

We had a brief chat, as they were off to a winery for a tasting session, like you do,  having arranged a lift with a Dutch couple-so no driving!

David has supplied some recommendations, the first of which we acted on was a meal at the lovely La Cantina restaurant in Castiglione Del Lago and what an experience it was due to the somewhat volatile weather which decided to throw thunder and lightning, torrential rain and gale force winds which, as we were ushered inside, cleared the tables of anything not held down with a soundtrack of breaking glass and crockery.

On return to the van the good news was the awing/canopy was intact-the not so good, yours truly had left the over bed Heki open!

So have a good trip up to Garda David and Jenny and we may bump into you again sometime!!

 

The user and all related content has been Deleted User

We had a fairly full fridge on the way out last month. As may be discerned by this post, I am not languishing in an oubliette somewhere. Unless searching was prompted by some fit of pique after a spat between our politicians, I think they have more important things to worry about.

Thanks David-all mow dry due to the fan heater that I wasn’t expecting to be in use this trip!

Its now 0730, the first van, Brits, left 30 minutes ago and it’s 29C already!!

Happy holidays.

Back to thread title. 

On 6th June we had an 04.30 crossing Dover to Calais with P&0. We had a few bits of dead animal and dairy stuff n the caravan fridge and a freezer full in the car boot.

1st check with French officials was passports and Covid bits, 2nd was similar at UK, 3rd was passing through P&O booth.

No checks or questions on car or van made. No looking at our compliant UK number plate sticker.

We met a couple in France who had crossed Newcastle to Hook of Holland. They had wardrobe, bathroom and kitchen drawer checked.

You can read into this feedback and other reports what you want, but it would appear customs are not bothered. The French are pleased we are back.

 

Colin

Hi all,

I posted the following thread on the Spain thread on 4 April, but due to a server error it could not be seen after a day or two, so I am adding this to this thread because I think it is still relevant.   Here goes:

 

Like many on this blog I had thought it was illegal to take meat or dairy foods or their products.   I am in Spain now and we travelled from home with an empty fridge and freezer.    It wasn’t that easy to find a food shop either as we were on toll roads, but we did eventually find a little ALDI.

Anyway, we are going to Italy in May and sitting in the awning in Bonterra Park the subject came up again; do we risk it or not.    I thought that this is too ridiculous and after a bit of Googling I found the reference number of the EU Commission document and took the time to read it in detail and there is an exemption in the small print that it is legal to take enough food for passengers and pets own use.  

 The EU document Reference No is:  Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/2122 and reads:

Pursuant to Article 48(d) and (e) of Regulation (EU) 2017/625, products which form part of passenger’s personal luggage and are intended for their personal consumption or use and small consignments of goods sent to natural persons which are not intended to be placed on the market should be exempted from official controls at border control posts. Concerning small consignments of goods sent to natural persons which are not intended to be placed on the market, Member States should carry-out risk-based controls. The possible risk of introducing pathogenic agents or diseases into the Union through the introduction of products of animal origin should be considered in measures regulating the introduction of such consignments or products.

So in May our fridge and freezer will be packed with M&S dinners and snacks to enjoy on-route in France and Italy.

BillC

Anyone travelling between the EU and UK must look at government.uk regs. We are not a "member state" and our regs are now different.  At present there is an outbreak of disease in pigs in East Anglia, previous outbreaks of animal diseases have resulted in various food transport  bans and food safety is paramount between countries. 

Personally I don’t see it as a major issue, if you are in a MH. It’s easy enough to pull into a convenient supermarket located on Google and stock up. Even on Sunday in France most are open to 12:30. One of the reasons we venture here is to experience the differences. The last thing we want to do is live off stuff we have bought from the UK, I can do that at home.😀

To sum the situation up. 

The initial impression and generally understood instruction is you cannot take meat and dairy. 

If you unpick the regulations it would appear in a very grey manner that you may possibly be able to take meat and dairy, but how far you would get in arguing this I do not know. 

The reality is reports of checks being made appear to be non exist. 

Another reality is if you did have goods I believe the worst that would happen is confiscation.

On this and other forums the general consensus would appear to be carry on as in previous years to allow your first couple of days to be as smooth as possible, and if you want to take some special to you goodies do so.

I am not saying this is the correct approach, I'm just commenting on this is the reality. 

Colin