France’s Covid-19 ban on freight from UK brings warnings over Christmas supplies

Freight vehicles queue to board a train to France via the Eurotunnel at Folkestone, Britain, hours ahead of a travel ban announced by France due to a new strain of the coronavirus causing Covid-19 in the UK, 20 December 2020. REUTERS - PETER NICHOLLS

On Sunday evening, France joined other European countries in banning travel from Britain after UK authorities confirmed they had identified a new and more contagious strain of the coronavirus that causes Covid-19.

Britain’s Department for Transport advices travellers to avoid the ports at Kent the Eurotunnel and other points of entry to France for the 48-hour period that began Sunday evening.

Travel Update 1/2
All passenger transport and accompanied freight from the UK will be unable to access France. This will last for 48hrs and started at 11pm (GMT) tonight.

Follow @kent_police for further updates pic.twitter.com/0yUWt4bZUD

— Dept for Transport (@transportgovuk) December 20, 2020

Authorities in Kent activated an emergency plan known as Operation Stack to ease gridlock and filter traffic.

The Eurotunnel under the English Channel said access would be suspended for passenger and freight traffic and warned anyone entering the UK to check rules for travel and accommodation.

Since midnight today, and for a period of 48 hours, France has suspended all travel by people from the United Kingdom.
Unaccompanied and export flow is not affected by this measure.
Carriers must get closer to their shipping company pic.twitter.com/FRuarRGz5f

— Port de Calais (@calaisport) December 21, 2020

The Port of Calais also issued a notice that said the ban only affected people, meaning lorries loaded onto ferries could continue to move.

“For a period of 48 hours, France has suspended all travel by people from the United Kingdom,” the port tweeted. “Unaccompanied and export flow is not affected by this measure.”

Travel affected in both directions

Although only a one-way ban, the measure was expected to have an impact on haulage to the UK as well, including regular pickups of perishable food from distribution centres in France and Belgium.

Logistics UK, which represents haulers serving supermarkets and factories, said there was no need to be concerned about food shortages.

“Shoppers should not panic buy,” the group said in a statement.

Statement from @LogisticsUKNews: “Shoppers should not panic buy – retailers will be making every effort to ensure there is stock within the system... We are maintaining close contact with HMG to ensure that supplies of fresh produce are available throughout Xmas & the New Year.” pic.twitter.com/CCiM3kp6sL

— Adam Payne (@adampayne26) December 20, 2020

“Inbound traffic still has access to the UK. We are maintaining close contact with UK government to ensure that supplies of fresh produce are available throughout Christmas and the New Year.”

The ban was expected to affect the arrival of consumer goods and other supplies in demand over the holiday season, adding uncertainty to a traffic situation already complicated by Britain’s impending departure from the European Union on 1 January.

Rod McKenzie, policy director of the Road Haulage Association, said the ban would compound difficulties already witnessed with the Christmas rush and Brexit stockpiling.

On #bbcnews as the French shut border for 48 hours and lorry queue misery increases - a really serious escalation of a worsening situation ⁦@RHANews⁩ #covid #brexit pic.twitter.com/5TK3AnghEw

— Rod McKenzie (@RHARodMcKenzie) December 21, 2020

“This is an absolute hammer blow after all the queues that we’ve had at ports over the past week caused by Brexit stockpiling and of course the Christmas rush,” McKenzie told the BBC. “There’s real confusion and uncertainty in the industry.”