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Apologies if this has already been covered elsewhere but this needs pinning to the top by a mod urgently to warn all travellers as Customs are now apparently confiscating and destroying (taking home & eating  )  all illegal food products they find in vehicles. 

Due to the Foot and Mouth issues, with effect from 7th August you are now banned from taking certain food products over the channel.

This email is curently being sent to SpeedFerries customers.

Dear Customer

Ban on personal exports

Please be advised that following the outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease the European Union have introduced interim protection measures to help prevent the spread of the disease.

As from 7th August 2007, it is illegal for you to take any of the following food and drink abroad:
· Meat
· Meat products
· Milk
· Milk and dairy products

For more information visit the DEFRA website at www.defra.gov.uk

Please note that items containing any of the above e.g. sandwiches / paninies etc., purchased at our Engine Bay café at Dover or onboard the craft must be consumed before disembarkation in Boulogne.

Kind regards
Customer Service

This is taken from DEFRA's website please read and take note people!!

Advice for people going abroad:
Personal exports is the term used to describe produce that is taken out of Great Britain by travellers. This includes parcels sent abroad containing food for personal consumption.

Foot and mouth disease presents no risks to humans but does pose a serious threat to animal health. It can be spread through a variety of food products which could carry the disease. As a precautionary measure, the European Union has introduced emergency rules to restrict export of potentially susceptible products from the UK. We are urging people to play their part in trying to prevent disease spreading between countries.

Fresh meat, fresh milk, milk products from animals or meat products from animals which are susceptible to foot and mouth disease should not be taken or posted abroad. It is impossible to draw up a comprehensive list of every banned food but some examples are bacon, sausages, ham (including sandwiches or pizza containing these ingredients), soups containing meat pieces, cheese, cream, butter, milk powder, yoghurt and ice-cream. These rules also apply to items such as biscuits, bread, cakes, chocolate or confectionery, pet food and fish bait that contain dairy and meat products from susceptible animals.

Some products containing milk and milk products which have been subject to further processing (i.e. cooking) and products which do not contain meat/milk of susceptible species are permitted. It is hard to give a definitive list but examples are margarine, mayonnaise (not containing dairy products), soya milk, cereals (not containing dairy products), cooked ready meals and soups not containing meat/milk of susceptible species. Drinks such as tea, coffee, baby milk and fruit juice are also OK.

Milk products for medicinal use fall outside the scope of the EU ban on personal exports of dairy products. For example, this means that products for intravenous gastronomy use are permitted. It is advisable to take a doctors note explaining what the product is and what it is used for.

Other countries are understandably taking a very cautious approach and there is no guarantee that products will not be confiscated by foreign customs if they deem them to be a risk.

As with normal customs practices, vehicles and passengers can be subject to spot checks. Because of the foot and mouth outbreak it is increasingly likely that you may be asked if you have food products in your possession and that your car may be disinfected. Practices vary from country to country and even within each country, so we are unable to give advice on individual countries and their borders.

bump

Yes, you'll be fine with those. 

Shops generally open on Sunday morning only - and some supermarkets don't open at all.   You'll also find some areas where the smaller shops are closed on Mondays!  However, boulangeries and so on are usually open.

Quote: Originally posted by jac.e on 21/8/2007

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Hi, we are off to vendee on sunday, can'twait ! I'm a bit worried about what we can take with us, oh has brought some insant tea & coffeemate as we were told the shops shut early on sunday, does anyone know if this is ok, thanks

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I am sorry to tell you that Coffeee Mate is on the list as a milk product and therefore not allowed. Also on the list are chocolate biscuits and any other product containig dairy produce.

Steve W