Illegal to transport wine between departments?
Discussion
Copied from a thread on the British Expat froum:
A British friend was pulled over by the Customs and questioned about three cases of wine I was carrying. They said that it was illegal to take wine in quantity from department to department (an old French law, now being enacted to stop tourists taking wine to the ports!).
Has anyone ever heard of this?
Seems a bit extreme to me, if correct, and will also put a dampener on my holiday in Dordogne in July if I can't bring some back with me.
A British friend was pulled over by the Customs and questioned about three cases of wine I was carrying. They said that it was illegal to take wine in quantity from department to department (an old French law, now being enacted to stop tourists taking wine to the ports!).
Has anyone ever heard of this?
Seems a bit extreme to me, if correct, and will also put a dampener on my holiday in Dordogne in July if I can't bring some back with me.
Heard of it but not for this sort of quantity. There's a story around at the moment about one of the big producers mislabelling bottles on purpose, I believe to alter the location so I believe the law exists to limit this - IIRC it was 2 million bottles. Looks like he was just looking for an excuse. Details here
http://www.bienpublic.com/cote-d-or/2012/06/13/fra...
http://www.bienpublic.com/cote-d-or/2012/06/13/fra...
As we live in 49 (Saumur) and buy our wine from 37 (St Nicholas) we would be breaking the law every time we buy.
I am pretty certain that this must be a myth. Provided tax has been paid there is no reason why it cannot be transported and exported.
The French wine industry would collapse if it were true, as there are plenty of departments that do not produce wine, but most people in them drink it.
I am pretty certain that this must be a myth. Provided tax has been paid there is no reason why it cannot be transported and exported.
The French wine industry would collapse if it were true, as there are plenty of departments that do not produce wine, but most people in them drink it.
).It's not illegal to transport wine in france, but as any alcohol beverage is taxed, you need to have the proof the tax has been paid.
When you purchase a bottle from a shop, it has a stamp on it (generally on the top) which states the tax has been paid.
If you purchase some anonymous bottled wine or a large quantity ("vin en vrac") from a wine producer or a "cooperative", you should ask the place for the "congé" (the french name for the document) which is the proof you paid the tax when you purchased the alcohol.
When you purchase a bottle from a shop, it has a stamp on it (generally on the top) which states the tax has been paid.
If you purchase some anonymous bottled wine or a large quantity ("vin en vrac") from a wine producer or a "cooperative", you should ask the place for the "congé" (the french name for the document) which is the proof you paid the tax when you purchased the alcohol.
Edited by ManuFromParis on Tuesday 17th July 23:12
Edited by ManuFromParis on Tuesday 17th July 23:13
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