France & food.

Rapido9

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Hi Everybody,
We are planning a trip to France in Feb. via the Tunnel. Post ****** I would like to know peoples experience with the French customs with regard to taking food e.g. meat (bacon) dairy, (cheddar) & specialist dog food. Are they strict & check the van, are you just waived through, or is there a random check. Ant info appreciated.
Have a great New Year!
 
Never been searched. We have been asked if we have any meat products. We don't risk it, wouldn't want to have food confiscated .
Plenty of supermarkets in France.We enjoy going in them.
 
I've never been searched either. I don't care about our food, but my dog's food is a particular brand that is only available online and I really, really don't want to change it for a number of reasons. So I have always carried enough of it to last us through several weeks.

Ironically, it is manufactured in Germany ...
 
I decided to ignore the regulations and have, as yet, not been checked.

Indeed, apart from a crossing to Dieppe where border controls are in France, there are no checks in place t'other side anyway.

I don't know where the border controls are if sailing from Portsmouth or Poole.
 
Not been checked either, don't think I've even been asked, at least can't remember if I have.
 
Really don't see the point of taking any grub over to France apart from milk for a cuppa if you arrive late or early, going into a French supermarket is a joy to behold, an absolutely unbelievable choice of everything and on a similar if not cheaper scale than the UK.
 
We've used the tunnel and Portsmouth several times since the rules changed and have never been asked about food even when border control staff have entered the van.
 
I found meat and poultry expensive and the meat crap or not what I'm accustomed to.
 
We use the tunnel and have never been searched. Whilst we love French supermarkets as most folks do, we think it is worth taking what you need on board until you plan to hit one.
 
Budgie said:
on a similar if not cheaper scale than the UK
Click to expand...
obviously a while since you’ve been over pre covid i agree france was roughly 20% cheaper than the uk but last year everything
seemed about the same price or about 10% dearer than home , re the OP we go over twice a year and have never been questioned let alone searched but our main contraband is dog food not that their on medicated food but i don’t like using the meatloaf type that is all you seem to be able to get in portugal
 
We've never been searched either but it always amuses me when they ask there questions, any firearms, sharp knives, it's a motorhome we have a drawer full of them :unsure:
 
My tiny van has been checked for extra passengers, it always puts the customs off when I leap up ready to open small cupboards and tailgate!!
 
We took a whole chest freezer of Christmas food, turkey etc over for christmas and were not checked like the other 6 trips last year. Though technically it's not permitted, but they have no interest in enforcing it.
 
Budgie said:
Really don't see the point of taking any grub over to France apart from milk for a cuppa if you arrive late or early, going into a French supermarket is a joy to behold, an absolutely unbelievable choice of everything and on a similar if not cheaper scale than the UK.
Click to expand...
Always puzzled by people taking cheese to France
 
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