Newsletter – Page 4 – Neer Service France

France Tightens COVID Measures

President Macron this week announced the increased use of a Health Passport or “Digital COVID Certificate” as France faces an increase in the highly transmissible delta variant of

Curfew Ends in France

The French government announced last week that the curfew that has kept people at home during the evening and nighttime hours since mid-October has ended as France continues to relax restrictions.

With over 48% of the French population receiving at least one vaccine shot and 27% fully vaccinated, the curfew was ended ten days earlier than originally planned. The French Prime Minister also said that masks are no longer required outside (except in crowded places) but will remain mandatory in all indoors spaces.

In addition, starting June 9th restaurants and cafes that had only been opened for outdoor seating, can now welcome guests inside. As the summer heat rose to over 91 degrees Fahrenheit (33 degrees Celsius ) in Paris last week, people also welcomed the news that swimming pools can also reopen.

France Welcomes Back Americans

The French government has opened the door for American citizens to travel to France and the rest of Europe for the first time since the beginning of the pandemic.

he European Union last week added the United States to the list of countries that will allow people travelling for business or leisure to the 27 nations in the bloc.

Fully vaccinated people can now travel freely to France without the need for a Covid-19 test with no requirement to quarantine on arrival. Travelers must present proof of vaccination and a signed statement that they do not have symptoms of Covid-19 and have not been in contact with anyone with the virus.

People that are not fully vaccinated must present proof of a negative PCR or rapid antigen Covid-19 test taken within 72 hours of travelling. Those individuals are also not required to quarantine but must also provide a similar signed statement.

Each European country does have the right to determine their own rules and business or leisure travelers should monitor the news for any country specific requirements.

Continued Learning at Neer Service

At Neer Service we believe in continuing to educate our team to get better, especially when things do not always go as planned.

For that reason, we have presented each member of staff with a copy of “A Complaint Is a Gift”, a great book that highlights that complaints or criticism are not something that should be ignored or denied but are valuable feedback that helps us to improve.

Like you, Neer Service always plan to provide the highest levels of customer service, and this book teaches us to welcome complaints as an opportunity to get better.

EU Launches COVID Certificate

Effective July 1, 2021, the European Union will introduce a Digital COVID Certificate to provide freedom of movement within the continent.

The objective of the digital certificate is to harmonize the requirements for travel within the European Union providing proof of vaccination or negative COVID testing.

The digital certificate will carry a QR code and carry confirmation that the individual has met one of the following criteria:

They are fully vaccinated;
They have completed a negative COVID test within the last 3 days;
They have tested positive for COVID longer than 15 days ago and within the last 6 months.

More information on the digital certificate is available on the European Union website on this link.

Leading shipping line CMA CMG reported that their profits grew from €48 million in January – March 2020 to €2.1 billion in the same period in 2021…..over 40 times more.

Future container ships may use wind instead of fuel as the team at Michelin work on the “wisamo” project to develop sails for large vessels. More information on the project is available on this video.

Stay Safe and Healthy

Lockdown Relaxed in France

The French government has announced a number of measures to allow the country to begin to return to normal in the month of May, but the country is maintaining the nighttime curfew from 7pm-6am.

Beginning on Monday (May 3rd) the government will lift the ban on travel within the country allowing people to move freely around France following the earlier restrictions that have impacted mobility.

The French President also confirmed that the government remains committed to opening restaurants for outdoor service between mid May and the end of June and allow the reopening of cinemas, theaters and museums with a limited capacity. Children are also returning to school after the closures in April.

International travel restrictions remain in place although the European Union have suggested that travelers from the United States that have been vaccinated will be allowed to enter the EU this summer. Tighter restrictions have however been put in place for India, Brazil, Argentina and Chile, that include a mandatory quarantine with tight checks on compliance by the police.

Moving and relocation services continue to operate normally subject to strict health and safety measures.

Nine Perfect FAIM Audits in a Row!

Neer Service are proud to announce that the company has recently passed our latest FIDI-FAIM audit with another perfect score.

The EY audit in March 2021 was the ninth time in a row that Neer Service has been accredited to FAIM standards with no areas of non-compliance since becoming FAIM certified 19 years ago.

A copy of our 2021 FAIM report is available here.

We would like to thank everyone at Neer Service, from our move management team to our dedicated packers and drivers, for continuing to keep quality at the heart of our company. We would also like to thank our agent partners around the world for their continued trust in the company.

Neer Service is also pleased to confirm that we have also renewed our “CO2” environmental certification for the fifth consecutive year. Neer Service is committed to limiting the damage to our environment by our activities and proud to be the only FIDI company with this certification.

More information about this certification can be found here

Neer Use New Mask Technology

With the expectation that masks will become part of our lives for the future, Neer Service has adopted the use of improved protective equipment for our crews.

The new masks have an effective pathogen decontamination built into them and a bi-directional filtration. They therefore provide better protection from any risk of infection for both our clients and crews without being as obstructive as a N95 mask for our labor intensive work.

More information on this new development in personal protective equipment can be found here.

Stay Safe and Healthy

New Lockdown Announced in France

As a result of the rise in COVID-19 cases and increased hospitalization in France, the French Prime Minister has announced on March 18th a new

France Continues to Fight COVID

What Your Customers Should Know

As some countries see an improving situation in managing the pandemic, France is continuing to battle against COVID-19. With only 5% of the population vaccinated, last week the country saw its highest number of infections since November. In order to help you advise customers planning their move, Neer Service bring you the latest news affecting the moving and relocation industry from France.

Curfew Remains In Place

The curfew from 6pm to 6am in France remains in place, meaning that people must stay at home apart from essential or work related reasons. Earlier this week, President Macron suggested that the curfew may be continued for another four to six weeks. Moving operations are unaffected by these restrictions.

Weekend lockdowns have been imposed in some coastal cities like Nice and Cannes, but there is currently no lockdown in Paris.

Bars, restaurants and cultural venues are closed.

Travel Restrictions

Entry into France is suspended for all foreign nationals except French, EU or EEA citizens and their partners and children.

Diplomats, employees of international organizations or individuals with a “Talent Passport” long-stay visa are also exempt.

Clients can review the requirements for foreign nationals arriving in France in English on the government website here.

Testing of Drivers Changes

Last week the requirement that all truck drivers (including moving companies) arriving from the United Kingdom must test negative prior to entry into France were relaxed for drivers that have spent less than 48 hours in the UK.

However, on Sunday February 28th, Germany introduced testing for drivers and other travelers arriving from the Moselle region in Eastern France that is considered a high-risk area for virus variants.

Older Vehicles Banned in Paris

In an effort to reduce pollution, authorities in Paris have banned older cars and trucks from driving in the city today (March 3, 2021). In addition, the speed limit is also reduced in the city area.

It is likely that similar bans will be introduced in future, but as a result of the age of the Neer Service fleet of trucks, our operations will not be affected.

Stay Safe and Healthy

New French Rules Impact Transferees

The French Prime Minister Jean Castex announced yesterday that the country would introduce much tougher rules for travelers arriving in France that may affect the plans of transferees with moves in progress.

France Reopens UK Border

Earlier today December 22nd, the French Prime Minister announced that France will reopen its border with the United Kingdom allowing the transport of household goods moves and other freight. The border between France and the United Kingdom was closed by the French government on Sunday night following an outbreak of a new highly contagious strain of the Covid-19 virus in the UK.

Brexit and curfew in France

As you know, the United Kingdom will leave the European Union on December 31, 2020 probably resulting in a number of changes to the customs procedure for moving shipments from France to the UK in the New Year.

New Lockdown in France

President Macron tonight said that France will introduce a new lockdown effective from Friday October 30th until December 1st aimed at reducing the rapidly growing cases of COVID-19 in the country.

Curfew in France

France Introduces 4 Weeks Curfew

In response to the rising levels of daily coronavirus cases, President Macron has announced that a curfew affecting nearly 33% of the French population will be introduced from Saturday October 17th.

In a TV interview, President Macron said people in Paris and the surrounding area, Grenoble, Lille, Lyon, Marseille, Montpellier, Rouen, Saint Etienne and Toulouse will not be allowed to be outdoors between 9pm and 6am for at least four weeks, except for essential reasons.

“We have to act. We need to put a brake on the spread of the virus” President Macron said as the government attempts to stop people visiting restaurants and private homes in the late evening and night.

Neer Service will continue to update Partners if the curfew has any impact on moving operations.