London (CNN) — A Dutch television network has filmed border officials seizing food, including meat sandwiches, from travelers entering the Netherlands from the UK — blaming post-Brexit rules.
One driver, with sandwiches wrapped in tin foil, asks if he can keep the bread and relinquish the meat, but is told by an official: “No, everything will be confiscated. Welcome to the Brexit, sir, I’m sorry.”
In guidance to hauliers and commercial drivers transporting goods between Britain and the European Union, the UK government warns drivers they cannot bring “products of an animal origin” — such as those containing meat or dairy, like ham and cheese sandwiches — into the EU.
Border officials seized the sandwiches, a TV segment showed.
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“Drivers travelling to the EU should be aware of additional restrictions to personal imports,” the guidance reads. “If you are carrying prohibited items in your luggage, vehicle or person you need to use, consume, or dispose of them at or before the border,” it adds.
Border staff told NPO 1 that, once coronavirus restrictions subside, an influx of travelers could lead to longer waiting times for those entering the country.
“Now look, at this moment the volumes, like you saw, we’re pretty small this morning — 30 cars,” Rien de Ruijter, Customs team leader told the TV channel.
“We anticipate of course that when the Covid measures go away, those numbers will increase, and then the waiting times could also increase. And that could definitely lead to irritation,” he added.
