What does the French securing their boarders really mean.

[buttons]

Did I read that the French customs are becoming more intense when checking our vans and fridges for food items when crossing their boarders. According to some exporter importer chap on the radio today this is just the start of the French securing their boarders to any cross-channel traffic. He said he now spends hours in their custom sheds having to itemise and get approval for his entire load.

The French are securing their boarders now didn’t someone else attempt this recently.

 

[Coastal Cruiser.]

It seems they are only interested if it doesn’t interfere with their plans!!

French want the new visa/Eric’s schemes put back until after the August 2024 Olympics in
Paris.

Boost for British travellers as EU delays post-Brexit border checks

Exclusive: Planned fingerprint and facial biometric checks will be delayed until ‘after Paris Olympics’

www.independent.co.uk

 

[buttons]

It seems they are only interested if it doesn’t interfere with their plans!!

French want the new visa/Eric’s schemes put back until after the August 2024 Olympics in
Paris.

Boost for British travellers as EU delays post-Brexit border checks

Exclusive: Planned fingerprint and facial biometric checks will be delayed until ‘after Paris Olympics’

www.independent.co.uk

Amazing CC you couldn't make it up.

 

[Googlebot]

Don’t think they are interested in fridges in Motorhomes. The restrictions are to stop foodstuffs that don’t meet the standards or paid the correct duties.

I very much doubt they would be interested and if so, I can live without a fridge of food for 10 minutes to the nearest supermarket.

 

[davidroxburgh]

We returned via the Tunnel yesterday about midday. After pet control (which had moved) we had to to go through an automated scanning machine for the first time ever. This was for French customs.

First Penny had to exit the van with our dog then I had to drive forward under instruction with the left hand wheel in a metal cage/lane about 9 inches high. Once forward enough I had to leave the van in neutral with the handbrake off. Then I had to exit.

The machine then moved the van slowly through the scanner - at least 10 minutes - and when a green light showed I could get in again on the “other side” and slowly drive out. Penny was about to get in again when they came after us and looked at the passenger seat (we are LHD) and went away. On return he asked if there was something under the seat and I confirmed the lithium battery was there. They were fine and I suspected relieved!

They were scrupulously polite but very firm. We tried to look as calm as possible and not appear grumpy!

Overall we reckoned it took about at least 30 minutes to get from after Pet Control to join the vehicle queue before boarding. We saw 2 vans before us doing the same routine but we could not see if other vans after us had to do the same.

We commented how glad we were not to be travelling on the weekend as you can imagine the build up with greater traffic volumes. Given there is only 1 train an hour at present this all suggests allowing more time before usual arrival at Coquelles.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Carpmart]

We returned via the Tunnel yesterday about midday. After pet control (which had moved) we had to to go through an automated scanning machine for the first time ever. This was for French customs.

First Penny had to exit the van with our dog then I had to drive forward under instruction with the left hand wheel in a metal cage/lane about 9 inches high. Once forward enough I had to leave the van in neutral with the handbrake off. Then I had to exit.

The machine then moved the van slowly through the scanner - at least 10 minutes - and when a green light showed I could get in again on the “other side” and slowly drive out. Penny was about to get in again when they came after us and looked at the passenger seat (we are LHD) and went away. On return he asked if there was something under the seat and I confirmed the lithium battery was there. They were fine and I suspected relieved!

They were scrupulously polite but very firm. We tried to look as calm as possible and not appear grumpy!

Overall we reckoned it took about at least 30 minutes to get from after Pet Control to join the vehicle queue before boarding. We saw 2 vans before us doing the same routine but we could not see if other vans after us had to do the same.

We commented how glad we were not to be travelling on the weekend as you can imagine the build up with greater traffic volumes. Given there is only 1 train an hour at present this all suggests allowing more time before usual arrival at Coquelles.

Where has pet passport moved to? It’s been over to the right before the first ticket gantries for the last 16 years I’ve been using it!

 

[Speve]

I wonder if that will affect automatic and comformatic gearboxes

 

[LesW]

Where has pet passport moved to? It’s been over to the right before the first ticket gantries for the last 16 years I’ve been using it!

just looked on the Eurotunnel website, it appears to be to the left now..

 

[Googlebot]

just looked on the Eurotunnel website, it appears to be to the left now..View attachment 740925

No, it’s now left as you go in rather than on the right.

We had no holdups at all last week on the Sunday which was a very busy day. Drove straight through most parts and minimal holdups. Was very impressed.

 

[Speve]

it’s now left as you go in rather than on the right

That’s what he said

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Googlebot]

That’s what he said

Soz, I meant to reply to another poster.

 

[davidroxburgh]

I wonder if that will affect automatic and comformatic gearboxes

We have a comfortmatic gearbox and once I had figured getting neutral that aspect was fine.

No, it’s now left as you go in rather than on the right.

We had no holdups at all last week on the Sunday which was a very busy day. Drove straight through most parts and minimal holdups. Was very impressed.

Perhaps they were quiet? It will be interesting to see if others have the same process?

 

[gus-lopez]

On return he asked if there was something under the seat and I confirmed the lithium battery was there. They were fine and I suspected relieved!

Why would they xray something without asking whether you were carrying anything volatile or that could be damaged by xrays?

Given there is only 1 train an hour at present t

so a 300% reduction in trains & prices sky high.

 

[Riverbankannie]

We went through it on our return last November but I am pretty sure it was engine off.

 

[Googlebot]

We have a comfortmatic gearbox and once I had figured getting neutral that aspect was fine.


Perhaps they were quiet? It will be interesting to see if others have the same process?

Apparently it was one of their busiest days? I may have been lucky.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[davidroxburgh]

Apparently it was one of their busiest days? I may have been lucky.

Sorry my post was not clear. I was thinking we had this process because it was a quiet day and they may have thought a good day to play!

We went through it on our return last November but I am pretty sure it was engine off.

Riverbankannie - my error - I was indeed told engine off. Did you notice if all vans went through this or only odd ones selected? David