Brexit Ban On Export And Import Of Meat Products To Hit Brit Expats

A shock horror customs scenario will hit cross-border expat shoppers post-Brexit.

British expats used to popping back to the UK for supplies of pork pies, ham, sausages, cheddar cheeses and even Bovril are due to be branded smugglers by customs officers once the UK’s left the EU. UK expat residents in the EU will be checked by customs officers for any animal-based products and could be arrested and charged with dinging in illegal produce. The ridiculous scenario will begin the day after the UK leaves the bloc without a deal.

According to a senior European Union official, animal-derived products are only allowed to be freely distributed within EU member states, with the rule put in place to prevent the spread of serious diseases caused by contaminated meat products. The law won’t affect just UK expats returning to their EU home bases but will stop the time-honoured practice of bringing in cool boxes crammed with British culinary favourites when visiting EU countries on holiday.

The eurocratic take on the rule’s application border-wide is that UK customs officers will need to decide whether or not to reciprocate against EU visitors to the UK. One would-be comedian told the media it would be unfortunate if cheese-loving visitors from France were forced to only eat Cheddar for the length of their stay. Another British sector likely to be affected in the event of a no-deal Brexit is the hi-so catering trade, as authentic French restaurants in the UK famed for the freshness of their ingredients may well have problems with UK customs and excise as regards their regular deliveries from across the Channel.