Time was when French gourmet-diners loved nothing more than a large 'plateau de fruits de mer'. Now their pleasure may be curtailed.
What last week was a regular gastronomic experience has become toxic this week, as the export of UK shellfish to the EU has been indefinitely halted.
UK shellfish such as Oysters, Mussels, Clams, and Scallops, were previously processed in the EU. Now the 'depuration' process must take place prior to entry into the EU; but the import ban remains in place regardless.
The punishment of the UK for Bexit continues. Last week Macron did his best to denounce the effectiveness of a British Covid-19 vaccine; only to make himself look a complete fool in the process. Now UK bivalves (some of the best in the world) are denounced as 'unsafe', and may no longer be consumed in EU countries.
One can but wonder what will be next on their list? Marmite? Worcestershire Sauce? Maynard's Wine Gums?
So, rise up Britannia. Eat more shellfish. Gorge yourselves on the sea's most delicious fruits. It's good for you, it tastes wonderful, and you'll be helping your fishermen. Perhaps the UK's fishmongers could also help the cause by lowering their prices.
The main difficulty will be getting Brits to consume all those weird looking things that previously only foreigners ate (probably with garlic!).
The more Brussels dreams-up their puerile bully-boy tactics, the more other member states see how badly they can behave. My prediction that by 2030 the EU will look very different, is beginning to seem even more certain!
Fish, whose waters they are caught in, who has fishing rights, quotas etc is very complex.
ReplyDeleteWe send some fresh seafood including oysters and mussels to processed by Asian countries and it is then sent back here and sold as 'fresh'. With the lack of flights, maybe that has stopped.
I don't see why Britain can't sell unprocessed to the EU and let EU countries do the labour intensive work of processing.
That's how it always worked, but since Brexit (1st Jan 2021) they have decided to play 'silly buggers', and are trying to make life as difficult as possible for the UK.
DeleteIf you choose to leave a club you cannot expect to have access to all facilitates without paying.
DeleteIt's always been the EU countries who wanted to buy the UK's fish and shellfish. The EU's fish merchants will now be just as annoyed as the UK's; just so Brussels can be childish.
DeleteGreat headline by the way.
ReplyDeleteI thought so too!
DeleteThat is a shock, not to get those oysters anymore!
ReplyDeleteAnd yes: it is childish, that sort of "punishment" - though I hear the 'Europeans' mumble "You can't have the cake AND eat it"...
I stocked up on Lea & Perrins Worcestersauce, but can't do that with oysters -- dream of visiting Great Britain soon, and WILL, regardless of bureaucracy .
I'm sure that as soon as Brussels realises how childish they are now being viewed, they'll reverse this decision. But, of course, it should never have happened in the first place.
DeleteWe support our fishermen as we eat a lot of fish.
ReplyDeleteI’m having my Covid jab today .... nah nah na nah nah Macron 😂🤣😂 XXXX
Strange that Macron wanted to hijack our order, then claim it didn't work. Make your mind up M President.
Delete2030 is very close to us, it's not that far from us, the world is really changing so fast, I wish miraculously these wonderful seafood would come here in some way.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure that very soon the world will benefit from British fished bivalves. It just takes a little time to find new markets.
DeleteOne thing you won't be short of is Woooster Sauce.... it is made by Heinz. I spotted the Heinz version some time back and thought... "Nah, not the real deal!"
ReplyDeleteTurns out I was wrong.... Heinz own Lea & Perrins and the contents are the same.... we just pay extra for the Lea & Perrins embossed bottle and labels [which state clearly that it is made by Heinz]....
Or, here in France, pay thro' the schnozzle!!
On the "forrin" shelves the 150ml L&P version costs 5€43...
On the condiment shelves the Heinz bottle costs 1€47....
that's a bottle of wine, that is!!
At this moment I have three unopened bottles of Heinz, and one opened bottle of L & P's. I dreaded having my supply cut-off, so stocked up.
DeleteIs it fair to say that the EU "punishes" the UK? That there would be consequences to Brexit, not least by way of red tape, was known to those who instigated the referendum in the first place.
ReplyDeleteI am sure resolutions will be found - eventually. How Britain expects to go on as before with all the benefits yet none of the responsibilities that come with belonging to a club is beyond me.
Other than that I agree with you, Cro: May the British dine on their fishermen's bounty served on a bed of "sovereignty".
U
For the past few decades all has been OK, then on Jan 1st 2021 suddenly it's not. I call that childish punishment for leaving their club; and don't forget that I was a 'remainer'
DeleteBut Jan 1st was date of exit, so naturally things would change. These are just the consequences of the Brexit vote but at least people can rest in the comforting knowledge that they got their country back!
DeleteYes, I know you voted remain. Credit to you.
DeleteTrouble is (and it is a trouble in any sphere of life) that rules are rules. Now that Britain has put itself into being classed a third country in trade terms it can't be exempt from the regulations that apply to all other countries in that category.
Trouble is, and please don't forget, that it's not just a tremendous loss for British fishermen (till a solution can be found) it's also the European mainland's loss of their beloved seafood.
As far as I understand only 1.5 % of British molluscs satisfy the Class A water condition. Whichever way you look at it, the whole thing (Brexit) is a shambles. And when the government advises British businesses to set up tent on mainland Europe you wonder about the maths. Sure, it'll save businesses currently under duress but it'll also lose, say, taxes that would normally go into the UK's coffers.
You know sometimes (nothing against the British - after all, I do live here) this country appears to live by the rule why make things easy when they can be difficult. Having said that the Home Office did surprise me that it took them only two weeks to confirm my "settled status" (unless I rob a bank - in which case I dare say I'll be shipped to a lepers' island).
U
I very much doubt if the UK will mirror the EU's behaviour by banning Champagne or VW's or Parmesan. Maybe they should show some retaliation, but it would only be descending to the EU's standards.
DeleteI would eat more shellfish if I could easily buy it. Unfortunately due to the travel restrictions the fish market in Birmingham is too far away at 45 miles. Alternatively, I need to find a really decent fishmonger nearer home.
ReplyDeleteLong gone are the days when MacFisheries had a shop in every town. Maybe they'll make a return.
DeleteI agree with your last comment, the EU is changing and not for the best, I voted to stay in the EU, but their behaviour in the last few months are showing their true colours and bully boy tactics. Boris has done a super job of ordering jabs quickly to obtain enough for UK and to pass to other poorer countries.
ReplyDeleteWell, I agree with that 100%. Brussels is shooting itself in the foot again.
DeleteAnd these are the people who we rely on. Load of children. I despair sometimes.
ReplyDeleteBriony
x
They certainly behave as if they're still in the playground.
DeleteI could eat mussels every day but not sure about cooking them.
ReplyDeleteEasiest thing in the world Weave; you just steam them in some white wine for a few mins, and they're done.
DeleteThe whole fisheries issue is far too complicated to reduce to simple trade-offs but the present situation does seem nonsensical and benefits no one.
ReplyDeleteThis is one thing they should have left alone, they're still very annoyed about fishing rights.
DeleteI presume France has its own fresh mussels. The Brits will have to freeze theirs and export them elsewhere. We eat fresh Greek mussels but also buy frozen NZ green lip. Theyre darned good.
ReplyDeleteOur local supermarket now has large jars of Marmite. Maybe we've got a special deal with our friends across the continent and over the channel.
Yes we have plenty of Mussels here, but as a country we do eat an awful lot.
DeleteTo most shellfish I would say "Yuk!" "Ugh!" or worse still - "EU!". Wild shellfish are part of the marine eco-system and they should stay where they are - in or beside the sea. (Rant Over)
ReplyDeleteThey are mostly bred (farmed) on long ropes these days, so no worries ecologically. You don't know what you're missing!
DeleteI love mussels cooked in a creamy white wine sauce and fresh oysters lightly oven baked with lemon and garlic - to them I would not say "EU!"
DeleteI take my Oysters as nature intended; prised open and swallowed.
Delete