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UK mussel shipments blocked by French customs amid brexit tensions
A leading UK mussel exporter, Offshore Shellfish, has reported that three of its shipments to the European Union were refused entry by French customs, forcing their destruction and resulting in losses of around £150,000 (€170,000).
The company’s commercial director, Sarah Holmyard, said this was unprecedented: “We have sent hundreds of shipments since Brexit and never had them rejected. Last month alone, three were turned away.”
The shipments were blocked at Boulogne-sur-Mer, a major northern French port. French authorities cited inadequate cleaning of the shellfish, though Offshore Shellfish insists the mussels were properly washed. Holmyard described the refusals as “subjective and inconsistent”, suggesting a political motivation behind the actions.
Other UK seafood exporters have faced similar difficulties, including shipments of scallops and oysters rejected due to minor administrative errors or new import requirements. The intensified border controls come amid ongoing trade negotiations between London and Brussels, aimed at easing customs and sanitary checks on food products, but expected to conclude only by 2027.