The RUCIP European Committee is pleased to announce that a new edition of the Rules & Practices of the Inter-European Trade in Potatoes (RUCIP) will enter into force on 1 October 2025, bringing a more modern, practical and transparent framework for the trade in potatoes in Europe.
These updated rules result from years of close collaboration among industry experts, traders and legal professionals across Europe, aimed at strengthening legal certainty, efficiency, and harmonisation in the potato sector.
Why a new version?
First established in 1956 and last revised in 2021, the RUCIP Rules have long served as the cornerstone for potato trade, providing essential procedures for contracts, expert assessments and arbitration.
The revision process included 29 working group meetings between 2016 and 2025, with the participation of experts from Belgium, Czech Republic, Germany, Spain, France, Italy, Netherlands, Poland and the UK. The 2025 revision has been driven by the need to:
- Modernise the structure and language of the rules, making them easier to apply and train on;
- Adapt to technological developments, including the use of electronic communication and digital forms;
- Align with current EU plant health regulations;
- Improve dispute resolution procedures to make them more cost-effective and transparent.
What’s new?
Some of the key changes in the 2025 edition include:
- A clearer structure divided into three main parts: Rules and Practices, Rules for Expert Assessment, and Rules for Arbitration;
- Reference language is now English;
- Overall text improved and clear definitions (e.g. “established broker”, “frost protection”);
- Clarification on packaging, temperature control, document requirements, and claims procedures;
- Arbitration now includes the option to have only one arbitrator for claims < €25,000;
- No exemption for industrial potatoes in case of force majeure;
- Annexes revised or added, including new tolerance tables and standardised expert and arbitration request forms;
- Alignment to plant health regulations in force;
- Revised fees for experts and arbitrators based on claim value and travel expenses;
To facilitate the transition to the new rules, a comparison of the current and 2025 versions is available here.
SAVE THE DATE: Open RUCIP Webinar on 17 October, 09:00-10:00 CEST
To help all actors in the potato supply chain better understand and apply the new RUCIP 2025 rules, a dedicated webinar will be organised on Friday 17 October 2025 at 09:00 CEST.
The session will explain what RUCIP is, what’s new in the 2025 edition, and why it offers a faster, cheaper, and more efficient alternative to legal proceedings when resolving trade disputes in the potato sector.
Free registration is now open through this link.
Detailed agenda will be published soon.
For more information, please visit www.rucip.eu or contact info@rucip.eu
