April trip to France.

[Pelagia]

Hi all, can anyone advise on the French food restrictions when entering with a motorhome, and in fact how strict they are? We want to take a few days worth of food. Is it just fresh food or is it tins and and packets too? What about taking EU food back in?
Thank you all in advance.

 

[phase3begins]

Recap of post-Brexit rules for bringing items into France from the UK

There are various new issues to consider depending on whether you are coming for a holiday or bringing several items to a second home or moving home

www.connexionfrance.com

 

[Lenny HB]

Never had anyone check, we are going over next Monday. We just take whats left in the home fridge, prefer to buy our food in France, will put a couple of items in the freezer for emergencies but that's all.

 

[Jenben]

We came over 10 days ago, we simply took what we had in the fridge at home plus our local butchers sausages in the freezer.

No checks done.

 

[DangerMousy]

As I understand it, its strictly no meat or dairy...including tinned and packet foods, and foods originally purchased within the EU (so that's the end of our tin of emergency cassoulet). However, so far, it appears they aren't checking - whether that is because they're not bothered or because of Covid rules, who knows?

We used to just take whatever is left over in the home fridge and plan to stop as soon as possible to do some shopping, but going forward we're going to try to stick to the rules....after all, we'd soon be complaining if holiday makers couldn't be bothered to follow our rules when they visit over here, so we should do them the same courtesy. It'll require a little planning ahead but its no real hardship - there's plenty of vegetarian and vegan foods out there

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[nicholsong]

EU decided that at the stroke of midnight (UTC) on a certain date that UK food standards varied from EU standards.

We need Gilbert and Sullivan to parody that.

 

[MisterB]

We didn't just take what we had in the fridge at home, we actually fully stocked all the cupboards aswell as the fridge and had several frozen home made meals in the freezer when we came over a couple of weeks ago. No issues whatsoever.

 

[Shrimp]

We are going on the 6th, so thanks for all that info!

 

[glenn2926]

We always have the freezer absolutely rammed full of bacon and sausage for our son who lives in France. The fridge has whatever was left in the fridge at home. Nobody has ever checked. I’m pretty sure the new rules were not aimed at old folk in motorhomes taking their own food with them.

 

[EMS]

This is the benefit of Brexit that we can have any standard for meat and dairy products and do not have to conform with the EU standards.
Hence the EU will not allow entry of these products as we did when we were members of the EU.

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[bexleyjohn]

Have crossed over to France several times since they introduced that stupid rule. No-one ever checks!

 

[DangerMousy]

Have crossed over to France several times since they introduced that stupid rule. No-one ever checks!

To be absolutely fair, they haven't changed anything....the rules around meat and dairy imports have been there for a long time (and plenty of other countries around the world have similar or even stricter rules around food imports). Its just that until recently those rules didn't apply to us because we were also members of the club. Now that we've left the club we have to abide by the the rules for non-members.

 

[phase3begins]

’….that stupid rule.’
or
Any actual law that I don’t happen to like?

 

[PhilandMena]

We ram our freezer full of meat and have dairy products in the fridge too. We entered Calais last August and we were not checked so will take the risk again.

Who dares wins Rodders, Who dares wins !

 

[bexleyjohn]

To be absolutely fair, they haven't changed anything....the rules around meat and dairy imports have been there for a long time (and plenty of other countries around the world have similar or even stricter rules around food imports). Its just that until recently those rules didn't apply to us because we were also members of the club. Now that we've left the club we have to abide by the the rules for non-members.

So they changed the rule!

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[glenn2926]

So they changed the rule!

No, we changed by leaving the club. The rules have always applied to non members which we now are. It really is that simple.

 

[Stealaway]

This is the benefit of Brexit that we can have any standard for meat and dairy products and do not have to conform with the EU standards.
Hence the EU will not allow entry of these products as we did when we were members of the EU.

We are not from some third world country trying import an assortment of bush meat and grubs.

Their customs are quite aware that our standards have not changed since Brexit and that they are every bit as good as theirs.
Its really not worth their time and effort looking for some packs of bacon and a bottle of milk.

Are we restricting what the Europeans are bring across here in their vans?

 

[bexleyjohn]

Get real - the reason they (the French Government) "said" they would ban us taking dairy produce and meat into France was to punish us for Brexit. But you are right, their Customs cant be bothered to check (partly because they're too damn lazy) and partly because they know full well its a stupid requirement. Let's face it, half the Health and Safety rules we apply in the UK (which emanated from the EU) are ignored in France.
I have owned a house in France for almost 20 years and have experienced many times the way they ignore their own regulations. Their bureaucracy is well known to be slow, obstructive and unfathomable.
Don't misunderstand me - I love France, I speak French and have many good French friends..........blah, blah, blah.....rant over.

 

[Googlebot]

Get real - the reason they (the French Government) "said" they would ban us taking dairy produce and meat into France was to punish us for Brexit. But you are right, their Customs cant be bothered to check (partly because they're too damn lazy) and partly because they know full well its a stupid requirement. Let's face it, half the Health and Safety rules we apply in the UK (which emanated from the EU) are ignored in France.
I have owned a house in France for almost 20 years and have experienced many times the way they ignore their own regulations. Their bureaucracy is well known to be slow, obstructive and unfathomable.
Don't misunderstand me - I love France, I speak French and have many good French friends..........blah, blah, blah.....rant over.

Health and safety laws didn’t emanate from the EU, it was so that employers stopped killing people at work and the current UK legislation is from 1974 and completely home grown.

I agree, the French are a bit lax at its application mind.

Back to the fridge, I will just shop in France that has all the same things I like that the UK have. Packing will be easier too.

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

We ram our freezer full of meat and have dairy products in the fridge too. We entered Calais last August and we were not checked so will take the risk again.

Who dares wins Rodders, Who dares wins !

Luvvly jubbly.

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[Hymerboy]

I've already mentioned this on a different thread. We bought some groceries in Gibraltar in January and the Spanish customs took it all from us.

 

[PhilandMena]

I've already mentioned this on a different thread. We bought some groceries in Gibraltar in January and the Spanish customs took it all from us.

Not exactly the same as Calais / Dunkerque.

 

[nicholsong]

I've already mentioned this on a different thread. We bought some groceries in Gibraltar in January and the Spanish customs took it all from us.

But that is a politically sensitive border due to territorial disputes.

 

[Fdhadi]

Lots of lorry drivers take their own food with them, they also have fridges in their vehicles. That’s a lot of checking to be done.

 

[jumar]

We came over 10 days ago, we simply took what we had in the fridge at home plus our local butchers sausages in the freezer.

No checks done.

You did, did you.....

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[Bucket]

As others. Fully stocked fridge, freezer and larder. Including home made meals in freezer. No checks on exit or landing. That was 10 days ago via Newhaven where I do find the people on duty pretty relaxed

 

[ctc]

Wine 1 euro a bottle, beer 12 euro for 18 bottles, what do you need to take?

 

[stevewagner]

We always have the freezer absolutely rammed full of bacon and sausage for our son who lives in France. The fridge has whatever was left in the fridge at home. Nobody has ever checked. I’m pretty sure the new rules were not aimed at old folk in motorhomes taking their own food with them.

I think you’ll find that the rules are aimed at everyone.

 

[Chris Laing]

Hi all, can anyone advise on the French food restrictions when entering with a motorhome, and in fact how strict they are? We want to take a few days worth of food. Is it just fresh food or is it tins and and packets too? What about taking EU food back in?
Thank you all in advance.

We've been here a week and zero checks. Wearing of masks are up to you but most french don't give a flying fool.
Other than that stock up at Lidl when you need too and don't care about much else just have a good time.

 

[glenn2926]

We've been here a week and zero checks. Wearing of masks are up to you but most french don't give a flying fool.
Other than that stock up at Lidl when you need too and don't care about much else just have a good time.

Just about as I expected. Most people are glad to see the back of any restrictions. There are a few people (most seem to be members on here) that enjoy the mask wearing and want to impose their views on others. Most people want to get back to normal though.

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