What food can you take over to France from UK?
If you are travelling in the EU you can carry meat or dairy products with you as long as they are for your own personal consumption. This also applies to plants or plant products, such as cut flowers, fruit or vegetables as long as they have been grown in an EU country and are free from pests or disease.
Taking food and drink into the EU
You cannot take meat, milk or products containing them into EU countries. There are some exceptions for medical reasons, for example certain amounts of powdered infant milk, infant food, or pet food required for medical reasons.
Allowed items: Most processed, canned, and sealed foods (providing they don't contain animal-derived products) Powdered milk for babies and infants, and baby food (up to a total weight of 2kg) Honey (small quantities for personal consumption only)
You can also bring in items containing products of plant origin but processed, crushed, powdered, cooked etc... so that would inlude eg. biscuits and baked beans (however it may be safer to put the latter in hold luggage however, in case considered too 'liquid' for cabin rules).
Tea bags are OK, because they contain neither meat nor dairy products. Marmite, a vegan spread, can be brought into the EU, but Bovril cannot because it contains beef stock.
Customs control
You are not allowed to take meat or meat products to France apart from fish or fish products (up to a maximum of 20kg). You are not allowed to take milk, cheese, yoghurt or other milk-based products except for infant milk, infant food or food required by humans or pets for medical reasons.
You are not allowed to bring any dairy or meat products into the EU from the UK and so don't be tempted to pack chocolate, biscuits, Bovril or any other products that contain prohibited ingredients. The only exception is powdered infant milk and special foods required for medical reasons.
You can no longer take products of animal origin, such as any food or drink contain meat or dairy, or plants and plant products into the EU in your luggage, vehicle, or person. There are certain exemptions to this rule for quantities of powdered infant milk, infant food, confectionary, specialised foods and pet feed.
There are exemptions for limited amounts of baby milk, baby food or pet food. So tea bags – that popular import by Brits the world over – are OK. Marmite, which is vegan, is allowed but Bovril, which contains beef stock, is not (although Bovril has launched a vegan alternative which would be allowed in).
Entry into France or the mere possession of counterfeit products is prohibited. This is a offense and then you risk a fine and jail time. Counterfeiting concerns all areas. Examples: toys, textiles, medicines, domestic appliances, spare parts, cigarettes, perfumes, cosmetics, software, digital products.
Can I take chocolate from UK to EU?
*Confectionery, chocolate or cakes (including Christmas cake, Simnel cake or cakes containing nuts) are permitted from any country as long as they are for your personal consumption and do not contain fresh cream or high levels of dairy products.
Items containing plants that have been processed, crushed, powdered or cooked are allowed so things like non chocolate biscuits or baked beans (but not with sausage) should be ok.
As a general rule, you cannot bring meat, meat products, milk and milk products (e.g. charcuterie, cheese, yogurt) into the EU. You must declare any animal products you have in your luggage and present them to Customs.
Bread is generally allowed (as long as it's not spread with butter and made into a ham sandwich) but most types of biscuits and cakes are not. Plants are also covered by the rules so this includes fresh fruit or vegetables which are banned, as are cut flowers.
Solid foods are allowed. Liquids must be stored in sealed containers no larger than 100 ml and packed in a single, transparent plastic bag (20 x 20 cm). Liquid foods, soups, foods in sauces, and soft or creamy cheeses are not allowed in the cabin. Non-transparent containers larger than 100 ml (cans, etc.)
You can carry other products that are not meat or plant based, such as bread, crisps, tea bags, etc. as long as they do not weigh over 2kg. You can also carry certain plant- or animal-based foods such as honey, snails and live oysters, as long as you have under 2kg.
Passengers are permitted to carry onboard one or two cabin baggage items, depending on the travel cabin, as well as one accessory, such as a handbag, a briefcase, or a small bag for a notebook computer. Your travel cabin is shown on your booking and on your ticket. Your cabin baggage must not exceed 55cm x 35cm x 25cm.
In France, like in many other countries in Europe, drinks might be a little bit expensive, so if you want to save money, always take a reusable water bottle with you. In the city, you will certainly find some places to fill it, especially in the public gardens and tourist places.
The same applies to salad cream, which despite its name does not typically contain any dairy, but only processed ingredients of vegetable origin, such as vinegar, oil, sugar etc. It also contains a small amount of dried egg, but eggs are acceptable as they fall under neither the meat nor the dairy rules.
Which foods can't you take into the EU? Brits can't take any meat or products containing meat, nor milk or dairy into the EU.
Can I take bananas into the EU from UK?
You cannot take the following into the EU unless you pay to have them inspected before you leave and get a 'phytosanitary certificate': fresh fruit (apart from bananas, coconuts, dates, pineapples and durians) vegetables.
The rules allow you to take food bought before security on board, as long as is not "liquid or semi-liquid" like yoghurt, jam, soup, honey or syrups. A sandwich, salad, cake or pasty should be fine. Essentially, if it's got a lot of liquid, don't bring it.
Can I take food such as sandwiches, crisps, chocolates and biscuits through security in my hand luggage? You can take food such as sandwiches / crisps / chocolate / biscuits in your hand luggage providing that they are not liquid based or of a solid/liquid mix.
2. Re: Can I take tea bags/coffee in my carry on? Yes, you can take coffee (R&G or soluble) and tea bags into your hand luggage.
There is no official limit for foreign bodies in spices and herbs shipments to the European market.
Non-E.U. nationals can bring in duty-free either 200 cigarettes, 100 cigarillos, 50 cigars, or 250 grams of smoking tobacco. This amount is doubled if you live outside Europe. You can also bring in 2 liters of wine and 1 liter of alcohol over 22%, and 2 liters of wine 22% or under.
Their main ingredient is milk. They should be confiscated under the dairy rule. You can surely buy them in France. That's a commercial importation, though.
Travelling with Eurotunnel Le Shuttle means you can have snacks in the car with you, but please be aware of what you can and cannot bring now that the UK is not part of the European Union rules apply. All the guidance from the Government is here and we have all the answers for travelling with us here.
10 litres of spirits. 20 litres of fortified wine. 90 litres of wine (including a maximum of 60 litres of sparkling wines) 110 litres of beer.
You can carry other products that are not meat or plant based, such as bread, crisps, tea bags, etc. as long as they do not weigh over 2kg. You can also carry certain plant- or animal-based foods such as honey, snails and live oysters, as long as you have under 2kg.