Customs shock at Saarbrücken Airport: 29 kilos of banned food confiscated!

Customs shock at Saarbrücken Airport: 29 kilos of banned food confiscated!

On Sunday there was an impressive customs attack at Saarbrücken Airport: two passengers from Turkey tried to smuggle a total of 29 kilos of fresh food into Germany. In addition to vegetables and fruit, cheese was also part of this suspicious cargo. The two travelers, a 50-year-old man and his companion, had stowed the goods in four pieces of luggage and passed the exit for non-declarable goods. But customs were not fooled and carried out an X-ray check, which ultimately led to the confiscation, as Lessentiel reports.

The press spokeswoman for the main customs office, Karin Schmidt, therefore urgently warned that bringing fruit, vegetables and cheese from third countries was not only prohibited, but also risky to health. Their warning aims to curb pests and pathogens that can be introduced through such foods. The decision on the import of such products is the responsibility of the responsible food control authorities, which will also initiate investigations if necessary.

Background on import bans

The issue of import restrictions has become increasingly relevant in recent years. According to weltweit-treffreich.de, the so-called bans and restrictions (VuB) are crucial to protect certain legal interests domestically. These provisions are often regulated nationally, but are also shaped by EU law and international law. It is not always easy to identify the relevant regulations.

The VuB are divided into different legal areas, which include, among other things, the protection of public order, the environment, human health, wildlife and flora. The aim is to prevent the introduction of diseases. Such regulations are important wherever cross-border transport is involved.

EU directives and customs controls

With its work in this area, the EU aims to increase the safety of its citizens and the environment. According to information from taxation-customs.ec.europa.eu, the task of the expert group is to ensure the coherent application and implementation of EU directives by customs authorities. These are intended to help minimize risks to life and health caused by imported goods.

There is an intensive exchange between customs representatives about the practical implementation of bans and restrictions. This also includes the development of risk criteria to make customs controls more efficient. Not only national authorities are involved in their implementation, but also European institutions that promote a broad exchange of information.

This recent incident at Saarbrücken Airport is a powerful reminder of how important it is to understand and respect the regulations surrounding the import and handling of food in an international context. Defective goods not only have economic consequences, but also health consequences, which should by no means be taken lightly.