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Can I send bacon in the post to France - anyone know?

(100 Posts)
Marelli Wed 12-Sept-12 14:54:35

This sounds really daft, I know, but my DGD and her boyfriend are working in France and it's shortly going to be his 21st birthday. She's asked me to post a pack of bacon out to him, along with some crumpets, so that he can have them on the morning of his birthday. Apart from the fact that the bacon may just go 'off', which she's willing to chance - would it be legal to send bacon by air? Told you it sounded daft confused! She hasn't seen any bacon where she is sad.

harrigran Wed 12-Sept-12 15:03:54

What a shame Marelli we bought bacon in Carrefour when we were in France a couple of weeks ago.
I am not sure it will survive the journey, don't think it is illegal as we have carried it in our coolbox for first night meals.
What I would do is jump in the car with a coolbox and lots of goodies and turn up on GD's doorstep ... surprise grin

JO4 Wed 12-Sept-12 15:08:19

This must be the funniest heading for a post on Gransnet yet! grin

(I'm sorry I can't help)

JO4 Wed 12-Sept-12 15:10:45

I guess you'd be alright with smoked bacon. And how would anyone know what was in the parcel?

Go for it.

Movedalot Wed 12-Sept-12 15:12:58

It is perfectly legal to send anything legal between any countries in the EU.

Grannylin Wed 12-Sept-12 15:16:37

It may be different by air, but I had a French salami sausage confiscated by customs on arrival at Plymouth!sad

JO4 Wed 12-Sept-12 15:24:08

grin

It's getting funnier!

JO4 Wed 12-Sept-12 15:25:54

Movedalot "It is perfectly legal to send anything legal between any countries in the EU."

I'm so tempted to say no sh-- sherlock. But i'll get slated! grin

Movedalot Wed 12-Sept-12 15:28:53

JO4 smile I was between the devil and the deep blue sea. If I'd said you could send anything someone would have come back and said you couldn't send drugs etc....................

harrigran Wed 12-Sept-12 15:29:04

I have images of Allo, allo and hiding the Madonna with the big boobies in a salami grin

JO4 Wed 12-Sept-12 15:32:33

Yes. I see what you mean movedalot. smile

It did make perfectly good sense.

soop Wed 12-Sept-12 15:34:07

harri I loved that programme. The script was very clever. I thought the gendarme was tasty. smile

Anagram Wed 12-Sept-12 15:35:10

Yes - you could have said "You're allowed to send anything that you're allowed to send..." grin (But we still wouldn't be any the wiser about bacon!)

soop Wed 12-Sept-12 15:36:24

How about sending a pig instead?

Ella46 Wed 12-Sept-12 15:36:43

If it's vacuum packed it would last. That's the sum of my contribution grin

Greatnan Wed 12-Sept-12 15:37:23

I found this information about sending things from outside the EU, but I know many people buy a lot of food from Tesco and have it delivered to France. I will do some further research.

. Home >> The Embassy >> Departments >> Customs Office >> Information for private individuals - Food, Meat and Dairy Products

In view of the continuing risk of serious animal diseases being introduced into the Community via personal imports, Commission Regulation (EC) No 745/2004 permanently prohibits all personal consignments of meat, meat products, milk and milk products from entering the EU, including packages sent to private persons.

Travellers are, however, allowed to bring in limited quantities of infant or specialist food required for medical purposes from all third countries, providing that:

• such products do not require refrigeration before opening,

• that they are packaged proprietary brand products for direct sale to the final consumer,

• and the packaging is unbroken unless in current use.

Extensive information available at: http://ec.europa.eu/food/animal/animalproducts/personal_imports/index_en.htm

Grannylin Wed 12-Sept-12 15:41:58

Well, what a cheek, I was robbed by a mean minded customs officer!I can still picture the glee on his face as he held aloft my sausage after searching the whole car and finding nothing else.
Just checked and you can send/ bring in cooked/ cured meat products between EU countries.

Anagram Wed 12-Sept-12 15:43:23

He was probably so pleased to have bagged a free lunch! grin

Grannylin Wed 12-Sept-12 15:46:29

www.hmrc.gov.uk/customs/banned-restricted.htm
Hmm this is confusing information

Elegran Wed 12-Sept-12 15:47:40

I resorted to Google (as always when I don't know) and there are several online firms who will send British Goodies to ex-pats. Presumably they have negotiated their way round all the legalities - and they will package them suitably. here is the one that came first on Google's list:-

www.britishcornershop.co.uk/

(I am not advertising. I know nothing about this firm except that they seem to be high up on the Google list so must be popular)

Elegran Wed 12-Sept-12 15:49:28

PS They have bacon.

Greatnan Wed 12-Sept-12 15:50:14

All the sites I have consulted, including French and British customs and Defra, say it is allowed to send meat products within the EU. I think there were temporary restrictions during the foot and mouth epidemic.
I couldn't give blood, though, even when I was young enough, and they don't want my organs!

harrigran Wed 12-Sept-12 15:55:32

DD has an English shop where she can buy Waitrose food. They will also take your order for Argos and take it back to Brussels (where she lives)

Greatnan Wed 12-Sept-12 16:03:51

My supermarket gets some bacon and English sausages occasionally and I swoop on them. They are virtually the only things I miss here, apart from gravy granules

harrigran Wed 12-Sept-12 16:36:26

I never use gravy granules so I reckon I could live without them. I think I could manage without most things, you just adapt to what is available.