Food into france

[harris_david19]

Hi all I am sure this is covered a lot but am new to this site and still learning my way around, we are going to Germany in July and have been told we cannot take dairy or meat into France is this correct?

 

[Cidered]

Correct. However latest MMM magazine states that they have never heard of anyone being stopped.

 

[harris_david19]

Do customs come on board ?

 

[Vanman]

Copied this from the Caravan & MH Club - chapter & verse here.

There are restrictions on the food that you can carry into the EU. You cannot take meat, milk or products containing them into the EU; there are some exceptions, e.g. certain amounts of powdered infant milk, infant food, special food or pet food required for medical reasons. You cannot take plants including fruit and vegetables with the exception of bananas, coconuts, dates, pineapples and durians. Check the rules on the European Commission website. When returning to the UK you can currently bring these products with you for personal consumption but always check for the most up to date information on GOV.UK

 

[hja]

Do customs come on board ?

You go through a customs check before boarding.

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[Itsmcb]

Opinion varies:-

Team law abiding citizen...Play by the rules and go empty, there are plenty of shops in France

Team Rules are meant to be broken....Take all the stuff from home as usual and in the unlikely event you get told to by french customs, shrug your shoulders then unload and place in their bin.

Choose your team

What you should not do is hide stuff.

 

[Itsmcb]

Do customs come on board ?

Very rarely and then only for a cursory check

 

[Roby2008]

We have shops in Germany that sell all that kind of stuff, you should be ok........

 

[Two on Tour]

We have shops in Germany that sell all that kind of stuff, you should be ok........

Branston pickle, Bovril, Heinz baked beans?

 

[Roby2008]

Branston pickle, Bovril, Heinz baked beans?

Yep, yep and yep

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[The Wino]

Branston pickle, Bovril, Heinz baked beans?

And hopefully some nice local stuff as well! Maybe we're unusual but one of the nice things about being in another country is trying local things and buying local produce. We we're lucky enough to be in Germany for the asparagus and strawberry season they were great. I wonder if europeans coming here have the same thing about bringing their own sausages!

 

[brynric]

Opinion varies:-

Team law abiding citizen...Play by the rules and go empty, there are plenty of shops in France

Team Rules are meant to be broken....Take all the stuff from home as usual and in the unlikely event you get told to by french customs, shrug your shoulders then unload and place in their bin.

Choose your team

What you should not do is hide stuff.

5 sides of bacon hanging in shower + 1000 eggs packed under cushions in garage = smuggling.
Open pack of smoked back + half-a-dozen farm eggs = breakfast

 

[Minxy]

Never been checked and never met anyone who has, we came away this time fully loaded with 'contraband' for which we were grateful as the cost of a lot of the food in the EU is extortionate. Cheapest carrots were €1.99 a kilo!

 

[Simon Meadwell]

Heinz beans in Casino in Port Grimaud €5.45 a tin. So get smuggling if you like beans on toast.

 

[Reallyretired]

In spite of assurances to the contrary proper back bacon is not available in France. We also take a 1000 bag of tetley tea bags though that's allowed anyway.

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[CHendy]

Copied this from the Caravan & MH Club - chapter & verse here.

There are restrictions on the food that you can carry into the EU. You cannot take meat, milk or products containing them into the EU; there are some exceptions, e.g. certain amounts of powdered infant milk, infant food, special food or pet food required for medical reasons. You cannot take plants including fruit and vegetables with the exception of bananas, coconuts, dates, pineapples and durians. Check the rules on the European Commission website. When returning to the UK you can currently bring these products with you for personal consumption but always check for the most up to date information on GOV.UK

Wow you're allowed to take Durian fruit in your motorhome to the continent. In Malaysia your not allowed to take one into or eat one in a restaurant or hotel The Durian is the smelliest fruit but a nice taste if eaten in the open air.

 

[peterc10]

Branston pickle, Bovril, Heinz baked beans?

Pickle and beans are allowed. Only meat and dairy products are covered by the ban. And I would guess that most customs officers will not know what is in Bovril.

There have been a few reports on this forum of customs checking your fridge going out. We use the tunnel and never had French customs even looking into our motorhome let alone the fridge on the outward journey. Coming back we have had drug wipes on the steering wheel by French police and occasionally had UK Border Force glancing in. Coming back in January this year we had our first thorough UK Border Force search. Took all of 2 minutes. And the searchers were French subcontractors.

 

[Jenka]

I'd take the risk france is too expensive

 

[Roby2008]

And hopefully some nice local stuff as well! Maybe we're unusual but one of the nice things about being in another country is trying local things and buying local produce. We we're lucky enough to be in Germany for the asparagus and strawberry season they were great. I wonder if europeans coming here have the same thing about bringing their own sausages!

Asparagus (Spargel) season is crazy here, it's expensive but that doesn't stop the availability of it in every eatery, its a staple 2-3 times a week at home until the season drops off...
Its the white one that is popular, not so much the green one..
As for the Strawberries , nothing tastes as good as the local produce.

 

[meanders]

Yep, yep and yep

Correctly should have been type Yuk, yuk and yuk.

Yes I know I am breaking the rules correcting you!

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[Roby2008]

Correctly should have been type Yuk, yuk and yuk.

Yes I know I am breaking the rules correcting you!

It's OK, the translation into German means the same ( that's what the missus says anyway)....

 

[meanders]

It's OK, the translation into German means the same ( that's what the missus says anyway)....

Sound like a lady with the same taste buds as me.

 

[Diabalo]

No meat is allowed so a Frey Bentos pie will be ok

 

[Two on Tour]

Pickle and beans are allowed. Only meat and dairy products are covered by the ban. And I would guess that most customs officers will not know what is in Bovril.

There have been a few reports on this forum of customs checking your fridge going out. We use the tunnel and never had French customs even looking into our motorhome let alone the fridge on the outward journey. Coming back we have had drug wipes on the steering wheel by French police and occasionally had UK Border Force glancing in. Coming back in January this year we had our first thorough UK Border Force search. Took all of 2 minutes. And the searchers were French subcontractors.

Yes, aware that Branston and the like are not contraband, but my statement was that you try and find them in Germany Peter, as cupboard space is at a premium.

 

[John n Jinny]

They did not even check we had a dog ,we had to tell them .Then they never checked his chip .We went empty ,no food .Will not bother again ,complete joke .

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[gpat]

No meat is allowed so a Frey Bentos pie will be ok

No Dog food is still meat.

 

[gpat]

Can you still take coal to Newcastle?

 

[John n Jinny]

Can you still take coal to Newcastle?

Deffo not ,its not good for the enviroment .But you can take wood chippings from Canada .

 

[gpat]

Deffo not ,its not good for the enviroment .But you can take wood chippings from Canada .

I just thought it seemed weird to be taking milk and meat to France when its readily available right there (as is pretty much else apart from Prawn Cocktail Skips )

 

[JnJ]

Came through Harwich 2 weeks ago. Just had enough in fridge for first couple of days as arriving on a Sunday night. Customs came into van but never even looked in fridge.

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