Michael Turner
Meat and dairy products originating in non-EU countries are prohibited for personal import into the French Republic and will be confiscated at the border. Customs officers enforce EU animal-health rules to prevent introduction of diseases; travellers presenting such items risk seizure and administrative penalties.
What is permitted: commercially produced meat products and dairy moving within the EU (including Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein under specific agreements) are normally allowed for personal use if they comply with labelling and packaging rules. Confirm the country of origin printed on the package before travel; products originating inside the EU/EEA area are the safe option.
Practical steps: verify origin and keep original sealed packaging and purchase receipts; if items originate outside the EU/EEA, dispose of them before arrival or hand them to customs on entry. Use the red channel / declare to customs if you are uncertain rather than passing through the green channel.
Additional checks: airlines and airports may have their own rules for transporting food in hold baggage and for temperature-sensitive goods. Commercial quantities require veterinary certificates and prior approval from veterinary authorities. Before travel, consult the French customs website and the European Commission guidance on animal-product imports, and contact your carrier or departure-airport health control for confirmation.
Dried cured meat in hold baggage for entry to the French Republic – direct recommendation
Avoid transporting dried cured meat products originating outside the European Union in your hold baggage bound for the French Republic; those items are typically prohibited, will be seized if undeclared, and can trigger fines or delays.
Quick rules
- Origin matters: products produced inside the EU/EEA or Switzerland are normally allowed for personal use; items from third countries are generally banned.
- Commercially sealed, labeled packages showing EU origin and a producer name are far less likely to be refused than homemade or unlabeled samples.
- Quantity should reflect personal consumption – bulk amounts suggest commercial intent and may be refused.
Step-by-step practical checklist before travel
- Verify country of origin on the package; if it does not state an EU/EEA or Swiss origin, do not place it in hold baggage.
- Keep original packaging, lot number and purchase receipt accessible in carry items so you can present them at control if asked.
- If the product is homemade, opened, or repackaged, remove it from travel goods before departure – such items are almost always confiscated.
- Check the arrival airport’s customs guidance (Douane website) and the EU travel rules for animal-origin products for the latest restrictions tied to your departure country.
- If uncertain upon arrival, use the red channel to declare; voluntary declaration avoids penalties and facilitates lawful disposal or return.
- If an inspection occurs: officers will either allow, seize, or require destruction; retain proof of purchase to increase the chance of release when origin is EU-based.
- Penalties for undeclared prohibited animal products range from confiscation to fines; repeat or large-scale violations can involve heavier sanctions.
- Consider alternatives: purchase similar snacks locally, buy EU-origin sealed packages before travel, or substitute plant-based protein options that are not subject to the same restrictions.
Beef and game dried-meat in hold baggage for flights to French territory
Short recommendation: do not place beef or wild-game dried meat in hold baggage on flights arriving in French territory unless the product is clearly of EU origin or from an EU-listed third country and kept in unopened commercial packaging with proof of purchase and origin.
Origin rules: meat and other animal-origin products coming from non-EU countries are generally prohibited at entry points into the EU. Products originating inside the EU (including intra‑EU travel) are normally acceptable for personal consumption, provided packaging and labeling show EU origin.
Third-country examples: items from the United States, Canada, Brazil and most other third countries are treated as forbidden unless they come with specific veterinary certification and appear on the EU’s approved exporter list; such certification is rarely available for casual passenger imports.
Wild/game meat specifics: hunted species require veterinary health certificates, proof of legal origin and sometimes CITES permits for protected species; most personal imports of game meat from outside the EU will be refused at the border.
Packing and paperwork checklist: keep product in original sealed commercial packaging, retain the purchase receipt, ensure labels explicitly state country of origin, and obtain any official veterinary/export certificates if attempting an authorised import.
Arrival procedure: if in doubt, declare the product at customs (use the red channel). Undeclared prohibited items are routinely seized and destroyed; administrative penalties or fines may follow depending on the case.
Transit and airline notes: check the carrier’s terms and any transit-country restrictions before travel; a product permitted by the carrier can still be refused by border authorities at the destination.
Where to verify: consult French Customs (Douane) and the EU Commission’s guidance on products of animal origin for the current list of approved countries and required documentation before travelling.
Do I need to declare dried meat strips on French customs form on arrival?
Declare any meat-based snacks originating from outside the EU/EEA/Switzerland by using the red-channel/“Goods to declare” procedure on arrival; undeclared animal-origin products from third countries are routinely confiscated.
Items produced in another EU member state, the EEA or Switzerland for personal consumption normally do not require declaration on arrival in France. Items from the United Kingdom (post‑Brexit) and other non‑EU countries fall under the third‑country restriction and must be declared.
How to report at the border
Proceed through the red channel at passport control, present the products and any proof of origin (labels, receipts). If a written temporary customs declaration form is requested, complete it honestly. Do not pass through the green channel if any animal products are present.
Consequences and practical tips
Typical outcomes for declared third‑country meat products: seizure and destruction, possible health inspection; commercial quantities may trigger fines or further enforcement. Keep sealed original packaging and country‑of‑origin labels to speed up processing; if items were purchased within the EU/EEA/Switzerland, show the receipt to avoid unnecessary checks.
| Origin | Declare? | Likely outcome at French border |
|---|---|---|
| EU member states / EEA / Switzerland | No (for personal amounts) | Allowed for personal use; routine checks possible |
| United Kingdom (post‑Brexit) / other third countries | Yes – use red channel | Seized and destroyed; possible administrative penalty for undeclared items |
| Special territories / overseas regions | Varies – check specific territory rules | May be treated as EU or as third country depending on territory |
Quantity limits and personal-use rules for dried meat entering French territory
Short answer: EU-origin dried meat for personal consumption is normally allowed; meat products coming from non-EU countries are generally prohibited on entry to French territory unless accompanied by an approved veterinary certificate from a listed third country.
There is no single EU-wide kilogram ceiling that automatically separates “personal” from “commercial” imports; border officers assess intent. Pack amounts consistent with personal consumption for the duration of your trip, keep original sealed packaging, ingredient labels and purchase receipts as proof of EU origin and production date.
If the product originates outside the EU, declare it at the border inspection point (use the red channel). Undeclared or undocumented animal products risk seizure, destruction and possible fines; if a third-country exemption applies, a valid veterinary certificate and official stamps will be required before release.
Any quantity intended for resale or clearly exceeding personal-use patterns will require an import health certificate, customs declaration and formal entry procedures; commercial shipments must travel as cargo with veterinary clearance. Check carrier rules as some airlines restrict carriage of meat products even when borders permit transport. For packing tips and small handmade items that can help organize food in a suitcase, see how to crochet a round dish scrubber.
Actionable checklist: 1) verify country of origin before departure; 2) retain original packaging and receipts; 3) declare non-EU products on arrival; 4) avoid quantities that suggest commercial intent; 5) contact French customs or the carrier for case-specific clarification.
Origins that trigger additional controls at the French border
If the dried-meat product comes from outside the EU/EEA or Switzerland, expect strict controls and a high likelihood of refusal at the French border.
Origins normally subject to routine acceptance: EU Member States, Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein, plus Switzerland (movement within these areas follows EU sanitary rules for animal-origin products).
Origins that routinely trigger extra checks or prohibition: any third country not on the EU’s official list of approved exporters. Examples include the United Kingdom (post‑Brexit), many Asian countries (e.g. China, Vietnam, the Philippines), large parts of Africa and most of South America – particularly when the product lacks an official veterinary certificate or approved-establishment stamp.
Origins linked to notifiable livestock diseases produce immediate restrictions. Pork-containing dried-meat from areas reporting African swine fever (ASF), classical swine fever or recent foot‑and‑mouth outbreaks will be treated as high risk; samples from Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, China and several Southeast Asian and African states have repeatedly triggered seizures and destruction.
Products manufactured outside EU-approved establishments, produced informally (home‑made/small-scale without veterinary controls) or relabelled with unclear origin are regularly intercepted regardless of country name on packaging.
Practical steps: retain original sealed packaging with producer and country-of-origin markings, keep purchase receipts, and check the EU’s list of approved third countries/establishments before travel. Lack of verifiable origin or presence of pork components increases probability of inspection and confiscation at the French border.
How to package and label dried meat to prevent seizure in hold baggage
Immediate recommendation: Use factory-sealed, vacuum-packed commercial retail units that display producer name, country of origin and net weight; keep purchase receipt and place packages in an easily accessible carry bag.
Packaging specifics: Prefer multilayer vacuum pouches (metalized film or high-barrier nylon) with tamper-evident seals. Double-bag each unit in a clear, resealable food-grade pouch to protect labels from smudging. For long trips choose moisture- and puncture-resistant outer containers (rigid tins or laminated pouches) and avoid repacking homemade or loose pieces – repackaged loose product is the most frequent cause of seizure.
Label requirements: Labels should include: common product name (e.g., “dried beef”), scientific species name (Bos taurus or appropriate game species), producer/brand, full country of origin, production/packing date, expiry/best-before date, batch number and net weight in grams. Provide an English and French translation of key fields (product name, origin, weight). If the original label lacks origin data, attach a printed sticker with that information and the original barcode.
Documentation to carry: Original purchase invoice with supplier contact, a photo of the unopened retail package, and any export/health certificates for non-EU origin. Store digital copies on your phone and place paper copies in an external pocket so border agents can inspect without opening sealed packs.
Packing placement and handling tips: Keep all packaged units together in a clearly labeled pouch marked “personal consumption – animal-origin food”. Put the pouch in your carry-on or an outer-accessible bag such as this best messenger bag for international travel so staff can view documentation without unpacking checked baggage. If total weight exceeds typical personal-use amounts (commonly 1–2 kg depending on destination rules), split into multiple retail-sealed units and ensure receipts reflect the quantity.
What penalties or procedures apply if French customs seize your dried meat?
Request an official seizure report (procès-verbal) and a certificate of destruction at the control point, obtain the inspecting officer’s name and badge number and a stamped copy before you leave the area.
Outcome most likely: products of animal origin not authorised for entry are retained and destroyed under EU sanitary legislation (Regulation (EU) 2017/625) and French customs rules. No reimbursement is normally given for destroyed items; disposal is performed under veterinary or customs supervision.
Sanctions range from simple seizure with destruction to administrative fines and, for deliberate concealment or repeated offences, criminal proceedings under the French Customs Code and relevant public-health statutes. Financial penalties and potential criminal charges depend on quantity, origin and intent; commercial quantities increase the risk of prosecution.
Documents to collect and preserve: a copy of the procès-verbal, the destruction certificate or disposal note, officer contact details, time/date/location of seizure, dated photographs of packaging and contents, purchase receipts, any origin or heat-treatment certificates, boarding pass and baggage tags.
How to contest a seizure
Use the reference on the seizure report to lodge a formal claim with the local customs office (Direction générale des douanes et droits indirects). Follow the procedure and deadlines printed on the report or listed on the DGDDI website; request an administrative review (recours). If that fails, escalate to judicial review and obtain an avocat specialising in customs or administrative law.
Practical steps after seizure
Retain all originals and send copies to your insurer and, if applicable, to the seller for proof of purchase. Photocopy and store the seizure documents securely. Contact the airline for baggage trace records if needed and your consular office for assistance when legal action is possible. Do not discard any related paperwork or photographic evidence until the case is fully closed.
