A new edition of the Rules & Practices of the Inter-European Trade in Potatoes (RUCIP) will enter into force on 1 October 2025, providing what the RUCIP European Committee describes as “a more modern, practical and transparent framework for the trade in potatoes in Europe.”

First introduced in 1956 and last revised in 2021, RUCIP has long served as the cornerstone for the potato trade in Europe, offering procedures for contracts, expert assessments and arbitration. The 2025 update is the result of nearly a decade of work, including 29 working group meetings held between 2016 and 2025 with experts from Belgium, Czech Republic, Germany, Spain, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland and the UK.

According to the Committee, the revision was necessary to “strengthen legal certainty, efficiency, and harmonisation in the potato sector.” The updated version aims to modernise the language and structure of the rules, adapt to technological developments such as electronic communication and digital forms, and bring the framework into line with EU plant health regulations.

The RUCIP European Committee underlined that the new rules also focus on dispute resolution. The 2025 edition “improve[s] dispute resolution procedures to make them more cost-effective and transparent,” with clearer rules for expert assessment and arbitration. Notably, arbitration now allows the option of appointing a single arbitrator for claims below €25,000.

The revised text is divided into three sections: Rules and Practices, Rules for Expert Assessment, and Rules for Arbitration. The official reference language is now English, and new or revised definitions have been included, such as “established broker” and “frost protection.” Provisions on packaging, temperature control, document requirements and claims procedures have also been clarified.

Another change concerns industrial potatoes, which will no longer be exempt from force majeure provisions. Annexes have been updated or added, including tolerance tables and standardised forms for expert assessment and arbitration requests. The fees for experts and arbitrators have also been revised, with scales based on claim value and travel expenses.

The RUCIP Committee said that to help stakeholders adapt, it has published a comparison of the 2021 and 2025 texts, alongside the full rules, a FAQ, and updated lists of arbitrators and experts. All documents are available through national secretariats and the official RUCIP website.

“RUCIP has been at the heart of potato trade in Europe for almost 70 years,” the Committee stated in its announcement. “The 2025 revision ensures it continues to serve the sector effectively, offering legal certainty and practical solutions in a changing environment.”