By Julien Morel
Copyright jerseyeveningpost
JERSEY is going to discuss border controls with French counterparts after the Island’s main exporter of oysters had a lorry-load refused because of a small typo on a label which was not a requirement of entry.
On Thursday, the four-tonne consignment, worth 11,000 euros, returned to Jersey after being rejected at the border post in Saint Malo.
Economic Development Minister Kirsten Morel said he would take action after being contacted by the owner of Jersey Oyster Company, Chris Le Masurier, who said that the French were becoming increasingly officious in their dealings.
He explained: “On Tuesday lunchtime we sent two lorries to Saint Malo loaded with oysters but one got refused because of a one-digit typo error on one label.
“Each shipment has a health certificate issued by our government’s vet. We also put a reference number on labels which ties with the invoice number.
“That reference number is not a legal obligation; it is an inhouse system we have to help the process. I know other exporters who just use the date, and others don’t label their consignments at all.
“Yet the head of the border post, who isn’t a vet, found a small error on one label which did not correspond to the invoice.
“We did all we could to resolve this: our government’s vet spoke to the border post official to say that he had inspected the consignment and he was satisfied that the oysters were all sound.
“I even had an offer from our Marine Resources team that they would be prepared to take new labels down to Saint Malo.
“But the border post official refused to budge.”
Mr Le Masurier said he had always had a good relationship with French fishers, and had played the role of neutral broker during the 2021 fishing dispute.
However, he said that could now sense moves from France to “rock the boat” – possibly in response to Jersey’s plans to create no-fishing zones in its territorial waters.
He said: “The post-Brexit trade agreement clearly sets out our export relationship and yet this one official was being disproportionate and unfair.
“However, it is becoming a trend, and I know of other exporters into other ports who have been refused on a technicality.
“I don’t want any trouble with fellow fishers or ports.”
He added: “Unfortunately, the customer who was due to receive the oysters – someone I have dealt with for 12 to 15 years – has now cancelled the whole order.
“These issues have never been about the quality of our product; we just find we face an increasing bureaucratic burden, which is costing thousands of pounds, as well as our reputation.”
Mr Le Masurier said he had invited Deputy Morel down to the Harbour to see the returned consignment, which arrived on Thursday morning, and the minister was fully supportive.
He added he had now returned the oysters, which had taken two years to grow, back to their beds on the beach, although some would invariably die.
“We have sent an appeal to the border post, which has been endorsed by our Environment Department,” he said.
“My staff were really apologetic for their small mistake, but I told them not to be; I have a fantastic team whom I am incredibly proud of. They have all helped to build this into a leading business.
“This whole episode is just pathetic, and we are being treated as idiots by one person in France. Jersey needs to stand up to this.”
Mr Le Masurier said that he understood that the matter will be raised at an annual summit next week between the Channel Island and French political representatives.
