What Food Can I Take to France in My Motorhome?

As we all know, France is one of the culinary superpowers of the world. With famous chefs, renowned restaurants and celebrated dishes, it has built a stellar reputation for high-quality and innovative food. However, Brits can be choosy, sometimes seeking a break from these gastronomic wonders and preferring to stick to our homeland favourites whilst in France.

If you are packing yourselves and your pantry into your motorhome for a trip to France, it might be a good idea to see what is allowed across the channel before you start planning a full English breakfast as a substitute for your tarte tatin or pot-au-feu.

Below, we took a look at what food you can take to France in your motorhome.

Can I bring fruits and vegetables into France in my motorhome?

Since Brexit, rules have changed considerably. For us, this means things are a little more stringent – you can bring fruit and vegetables into France from the UK, but these products must have been originally grown in the EU. If they have been grown in the UK or from any country outside the EU, you’ll need a plant health certificate, and can then bring as many as you like once you have the certification.

Whilst certain fruits remain exempt, you can bring bananas, coconuts and pineapples without the need for any certification.

Can I bring meat products into France?

Another result of Brexit is that you can’t bring meat products from the UK into France in your motorhome. This even extends as far as items with meat flavourings, so you may need to think twice before packing roast chicken flavoured crisps or pork pies.

As with fruits and vegetables, there are a few exemptions. Lobsters, prawns, mussels and snails can all be given the green light to enter France, but you’ll need to make sure that the snails or mussels are no longer alive.

Can I bring dairy products into France in my motorhome?

Dairy products are categorised much like meat and as a result, are not allowed into France from the UK. However, powdered milk for babies and infant food containing milk are allowed, providing they do not require refrigeration before opening and the packaging is unbroken (unless the product is being used).

Are processed foods OK to take to France in my motorhome?

Yes, so long as they don’t contain meat or dairy ingredients.

What are the rules for bringing alcohol into France in my motorhome?

There will be limits applied to how much you can bring into the country. Since the UK left the EU, the amount of beer, wine or spirits that can be taken into France have all been adjusted. At the moment, you can only bring the following amounts into France, all of which must be declared and have customs, excise duties & VAT paid on them:

• 4 litres of wine
• 16 litres of beer
• 2 litres of drink with an ABV of under 22%
• 1 litre of drink with an ABV of over 22%

Can I bring pet food into France from the UK?

Meat- or dairy-based pet food is forbidden unless there is specific proof of medical reasons for needing it. Should that proof be in hand, be aware that you can only take 2 kg of the food with you.

What food items can I take to France in my motorhome?

We’ve covered what you can’t take, but what about the things you can take? There are plenty of options available, some of which will give you the chance to showcase your own cookery skills in the land of Michelin stars:

• Pasta
• Rice
• Canned goods
• Granola
• Spices & condiments
• Cereals
• Bread

You might also wish to consider some of your home favourites such as ketchup and marmite. These products aren’t as widely found in France as they are in the UK.

If you are thinking about a road trip to France but have not yet sourced the ideal motorhome, speak to the team at Euphoria. We organise motorhome finance for both new and used models, allowing all drivers, regardless of budget, to find a motorhome for their needs. Our quick and easy application process makes getting motorhome finance simple, and with bad credit finance also available, anyone looking to find a motorhome can do so without the fear of rejection. Contact our team today to see how we can help.