Meat and dairy crossing the channel? (1 Viewer)

[Jake Royd]

For recent crossers into France how have you got on with meat & dairy checks.
I know it's wrong but I'm planning to 'forget' again when crossing this coming June.

 

[Jim]

Stand by Jake, some posters will be saddling up tall horses before they respond

Meanwhile, they don't ever seem bothered about fridge contents, especially with us as the fridge is too small to hide someone. This check for additional humans, is the only one we seem to get.

 

[scotjimland]

never give it a second thought.. and never been asked or checked

we just take what we want then stock up in France

but always fill the freezer with meat for the BBQ
steaks, chicken and sausages etc

 

[VXman]

6 trips in the last 3 years - never a problem even when searched 3 times.

 

[dunnah01]

Many won't have enough spare payload to fill the fridge so not an issue

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[Tombola]

Never been asked stopped or checked .

 

[DBK]

I think the worst that would happen is prohibited food could be confiscated. We always travel across with a bottle of milk and whatever was in the fridge at home like an opened packet of bacon.

Oh, and enough dog food to last the trip!

 

[bigwood]

The last crossing from Harwich I left the fridge empty but forgot the tins. The guy doing the checks didn’t look in the fridge but shouted to his mate outside that he had found the beans.
Our first stop was planned to be near a supermarket so I stocked up there.

 

[Tonks]

I think the worst that would happen is prohibited food could be confiscated. We always travel across with a bottle of milk and whatever was in the fridge at home like an opened packet of bacon.

Oh, and enough dog food to last the trip!

The 'worst that could happen' is that you have your food confiscated and receive a sizeable fine. I have seen the latter happen with some (stroppy and aggressive, which likely didn't help their outcome) people trying to take what seemed a ridiculous amount of milk across into the EU!

NO meat or dairy products are allowed, whether for personal consumption or not, which you already know. So it's up to you to decide whether to 'forget' or not. You also need to be prepared to lose said food products if you don't get waved through, or have a cursory search only. If you take prohibited stuff and you're stopped and the food is 'found' then the best bet is just to be calm and polite about any penalty issued, rather than being obnoxious. Which I'm sure you would be. (Polite and calm I mean, not obnoxious!)

 

[Coastal Cruiser.]

Been across about 12 times with Mrs CC loading fridge/freezer to the gunnels and never been checked or asked.
Stopped and checked for gas though every time bar one.

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[MichelleRyall]

Never been checked, just gas like everyone else. Mind you, except the milk most of my meat and dairy is only being repatriated as it came from Aldi or Lidl anyway

 

[Jake Royd]

The 'worst that could happen' is that you have your food confiscated and receive a sizeable fine. I have seen the latter happen with some (stroppy and aggressive, which likely didn't help their outcome) people trying to take what seemed a ridiculous amount of milk across into the EU!

NO meat or dairy products are allowed, whether for personal consumption or not, which you already know. So it's up to you to decide whether to 'forget' or not. You also need to be prepared to lose said food products if you don't get waved through, or have a cursory search only. If you take prohibited stuff and you're stopped and the food is 'found' then the best bet is just to be calm and polite about any penalty issued, rather than being obnoxious. Which I'm sure you would be. (Polite and calm I mean, not obnoxious!)

If caught I would be very polite and plead absent mindedness, hopefully having stuff confiscated but no fine.
I judge from everyone's helpful comments that the odds are still very good for getting away with it.

 

[Wicketter]

For recent crossers into France how have you got on with meat & dairy checks.
I know it's wrong but I'm planning to 'forget' again when crossing this coming June.

Came through last week, via Tunnel. Absolutely no checks, only asked if the gas was off before we boarded.

 

[Reallyretired]

We never bother with the restrictions and nobody ever checks. If it's in our fridge at home it comes with us.

 

[jumartoo]

One day, someone will be checked, and all hell will break loose, in the media, anyway.

So far, it's all been very flexible.

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[Riverbankannie]

One day, someone will be checked, and all hell will break loose, in the media, anyway.

So far, it's all been very flexible.

We haven’t heard much since the infamous lorry driver’s ham sandwich

 

[JRT]

Apparently we are not supposed to take our dogs food being meat based and technically prohibited. (Harringtons)
But as he is used to it we always do and it's never been an issue but then we've never been searched either.

As for taking other meats and cheese and the like?

Well they are one of the reasons we go there so no need for us.

 

[Tonks]

We haven’t heard much since the infamous lorry driver’s ham sandwich

Actually, on various forums and groups (including this one though I can't be bothered to try to find the specific posts again!) there have been a number of reports by people who were stopped and had their food confiscated, but without too much fuss. But overall it seems to be very few and far between.

 

[AlunandFelicie]

We made the mistake of not taking enough food for our dogs ,first and last time ,they feed their dogs some weird stuff over there! Dogs were NOT impressed ,ham is the great equaliser though

 

[carolyn]

We always seem to get searched, I think it’s a PVC thing. We’re small and easy to search so quicker to fill a quota perhaps. They look in loo, wardrobe, even small cupboards but never touch the fridge. I don’t think they want the hassle.

I’d be lying if I said it was completely empty but we just put the remains of UK stuff going out.
Coming home there are few restrictions .Just make sure your Serrano ham is less than 2kg or correctly labelled and packed.

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[JRT]

We made the mistake of not taking enough food for our dogs ,first and last time ,they feed their dogs some weird stuff over there! Dogs were NOT impressed ,ham is the great equaliser though

When we once ran out we got our Jack Royal Canin as his taste is for dry food.

Being a French brand it's readily available over the channel.

 

[Madcaravanner]

We've been checked for stowaways every time we cross whether it's Tunnel or Brittany Ferries Caen or Santander
We usually have enough food for a week but enough medication for 4 months (in case of emergency)