Taking a pasty to France as a snack after No Deal? Smuggler!

BRITISH tourists will be banned from taking pork pies, sausage rolls, pasties and other traditional snacks when they go on holiday to Europe under a No Deal Brexit.

EU officials warned yesterday it would be illegal for them to board planes, Eurostar trains or ferries to the Continent with any animal-based food in their luggage.

The news will also be a blow to traders selling artisan produce to tourists around St Pancras station in London before they return home on the Eurostar.

Fortnum & Mason, which sells a wide range of traditional British fare, has a branch there, while the Neal’s Yard enclave of artisan shops is nearby.

EU officials said Britons faced extra luggage checks and could be arrested if they try to ‘smuggle’ illegal food bought in Britain to the Continent.

In a No Deal scenario Britain would leave the EU’s customs union.

Under EU rules, all animal products from other countries are subject to checks.

A Brussels official said: ‘That’s the end of that. Becoming a third country is a brutal change. The reason is, you can bring serious diseases into the EU by bringing these products in.’

Once Britain leaves, fresh meat, cheese, game, poultry, fish, shellfish, pet food, milk, eggs, honey, bone products and gelatine would all be on an EU blacklist of banned products.