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France Import Restrictions

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In order to enter France, certain goods are subject to specific controls and, regardless of their value and quantity, they require the consent of France government, preferably, license must be obtained prior to passage through the customs, preventing the goods from being retained. On this page, you will see what kinds of items are prohibited from entering the France, and which items need special documentation before exporting to France.

France Import Regulations

Import restrictions

Senders should determine import restrictions from French authorities before posting

  • Alcohol
  • Animals and animal products
  • Anti-parasite products
  • Bees, honey and waxes
  • Baby’s comforters
  • Books and publications
  • Cereals
  • Contraceptives
  • Electric blankets
  • Fertilizers
  • Foodstuffs, prepared
  • Fruit
  • Gemstones
  • Helmets, motorcycle
  • Instruments, measuring
  • Jewellery, imitation
  • Leeches
  • Medicines
  • Metals, precious
  • Narcotics
  • Pearls and precious stones
  • Plants and parts of plants
  • Radio elements
  • Roots and bulbs
  • Rubber articles
  • Seeds
  • Syringes and needles
  • Television receivers
  • Terminal equipment
  • Tobacco
  • Toys, games and sports requisites
  • Wadding, felt, woven fabrics
  • Wood and articles of wood
  • War material
  • Weapons.

For ECI and EPI articles going to Andorra, French Guiana, Reunion and Monaco EDN’s and export permits are required for:

  • Kangaroo skins
  • Crocodile skins
  • Emu oil
  • Fish oil
  • Bunker oil
  • Coal
  • Petroleum bases products
  • Tobacco and tobacco products
  • Any other alcohol including beer and spirits all volumes.

Special documentation

Invoices

Commercial goods that exceed a value of 76 Euros require an invoice.

Gifts

Gifts do not require an invoice. Mark the address side of gifts envoi isole gratuit.

Customs declarations

Customs declarations must contain sufficient information for the application of duties and controls. France grants duty-exemption to up to 23 Euros.

ECI and EPI articles

For ECI and EPI articles going to Andorra, French Guiana, Reunion and Monaco the sender and receiver details must be addressed with a valid street address in English. A Post Office Box address is not acceptable.

The sender is responsible for finding if the destination country may impose duties, taxes, brokerage fees or any other fees that may be applied on the item that is being sent. Please contact the consulate office of the country you are sending to or contact the ECI customer contact centre on 1800 007 678.

Prohibitions

In addition to items prohibited by Dangerous and Prohibited Goods & Packaging Post Guide and ECI International Courier Regulations, France prohibits:

  • Anti-parasite products
  • Animals, live
  • Bark from resinous timber
  • Colouring matter
  • Edible vegetables and certain roots
  • Gambling machines
  • Imitation and pirated products
  • Lottery material
  • Material contrary to public order
  • Melatonin
  • Metallic yarn or trimmings of gold thread
  • Metallised
  • Measuring instruments
  • Material harmful to young people
  • Natural or cultured pearls, semi-precious stones and metals
  • Pearls coated with lead salts
  • Printed books, newspaper and pictures- offensive by nature
  • Radio elements
  • Toys, games and sports requisites
  • Vitamins and other nutritional products
  • War material and the like
  • Wadding, felt and woven and non-woven fabrics
  • Wood and articles of wood

Transporting food of any kind is prohibited under ECI Platinum.

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