October 17, 2025

UK seafood exporters slam France's new import rules on ice production 

A British seafood supplier has said that exporting to France is becoming "increasingly difficult" because of new import regulations — including rules governing how ice is produced.

Nathalie Porritt, manager of Aqua-mar fisheries in Great Britain, told the BBC they could no longer use Jersey tap water to make the ice due to the paperwork required and she said some shipments of scallops in summer had to be destroyed because they did not meet the required temperature requirements.

It comes after British Environment Minister Steve Luce told a hearing last week it was becoming increasingly difficult to meet requirements set by the French authorities to accept shellfish.

The BBC has contacted authorities in St Malo and Brittany for comment.

Porritt said they could no longer use mains water straight from the tap as it required extra testing on top of Jersey Water's regular quality tests to meet new French credentials.

"It's very, very difficult," she said.

Luce also referred the water issue in last week's hearing.

Last month a four-tonne oyster haul was destroyed at the French border because of a "typo" in a reference number.

-      BBC