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COM (84) 575 
 
 
 
Vol. 1984/02 25 
  
 
Disclaimer  
Conformém ent au règlement (CEE, Euratom) n° 354/83 du Conseil du 1er février 1983 
concernant l'ouverture au public des archives historiques de la Communauté économique 
européenne et de la Communauté européenne de l'énergie atomique (JO L 43 du 15.2.1983, 
p. 1), tel que modifié par le règlement (CE, Euratom) n° 1700/2003 du 22 septembre 2003 
(JO L 243 du 27.9.2003, p. 1), ce dossier est ouvert au public. Le cas échéant, les documents 
classifiés présents dans ce dossier ont été déclassifiés conformément à l'article 5 dudit 
règlem ent. 
In accordance with Council Regulation (EEC, Euratom) No 354/83 of 1 February 1983 
concerning the openi ng to the public of the historical archives of the European Econom ic 
Community and the European Atomic Energy Communit y (OJ L 43, 15.2.1983, p. 1), as 
amended by Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1700/2003 of 22 September 2003 (OJ L 243, 
27.9.2003, p. 1), this f ile is open to the public. Where necessary, classified documents in this 
file have been declassified in conformity with Article 5 of the aforementioned regulation.  
In Übereinstimmung mit der Verordnung (EWG, Euratom) Nr. 354/83 des Rates vom  1. 
Februar 198 3 über die Freigabe der historischen Archive der Europäischen  
Wirtschaftsgemeinschaft und der Europäischen Atomgem einschaft (ABI. L 43 vom  15.2.1983,  
S. 1), geändert durch die Verordnung (EG, Euratom) Nr. 1700/2003 vom 22. Septem ber 2003  
(ABI. L 243 vom 27 .9.2003, S. 1), ist diese Datei der Öffentlichkeit zugänglich. Soweit  
erforderlich, wurden die Verschlusssachen in dieser Datei in Übereinstimmung mit Artikel 5  
der genannten Verordnung freigegeben.  
COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
COM(84) 575 final
Brussels, 21 November 1984
COMMISSION REPORT TO THE COUNCIL
ON THE MARKET IN NEW POTATOES
COM(84) 575 final

CONTENTS
Summary
Introduction
1. Definition of new potatoes
2. Community production
3. Community production regions and varieties
4. Imports from non-member countries
5. Marketing season
6. Trade arrangements
7. Characteristic features of the market in new potatoes
8. Conclusions

Summary
At a meeting of the Council held on 17 and 18 October 1983, when decisions  
were being taken on Community legislation concerning fruit and vegetables and  
olive oil, the Commission undertook to present a report accompanied, as  
appropriate, by proposals covering the special problem of new potatoes. The  
fundamental question was to decide whether new potatoes should be included in  
the Regulation establishing a common organization of the market in fruit and  
vegetables or whether a comprehensive regulation covering the entire potato  
sector, both new potatoes and main-crop potatoes, was preferable.
This report is in response to that undertaking. Its findings, based on an  
examination of the economic and technical aspects of the production and  
marketing of potatoes, are that a common market organization should cover both  
main-crop potatoes and new potatoes. This ties up with the views already  
expressed by the Commission when presenting its proposal on the subject in  
1976.
At the Council meeting held on 17 and 18 October 1983 the Commission gave an  
undertaking, in the context of the compromise concerning Community legislation  
on fruit and vegetables and olive oil, to present a report accompanied, as  
appropriate, by proposals concerning the special problem of new potatoes.
This report is the result of that undertaking.

3 .
f
- 1 -
Introduction
Total Community production of potatoes varies between 33 and 34 million  
tonnes. In years marked by drought (1975, 1976, 1983) it can fall to  
29 million tonnes or 30 million tonnes.
The trend of production is downward given that 10 years ago output was  
approximately 44 million tonnes. This large drop is attributable to the fall  
in consumption which is now directed towards other products such as rice and  
pasta.
There has been a steady increase in the consumption of processed potatoes  
however (pre-cooked deepfrozen chips, potato crisps, mashed potato, etc.) but  
this does not compensate for the fall in consumption of the fresh product.
Community production in the relatively near future will probably stabilize at  
around 31 to 32 million tonnes.
Without considering in depth the quantities intended for factory processing  
(starch, food products, alcohol) or use of potatoes for animal feed, it might  
be worth examining, so as to obtain an overall view of the situation, the  
following categories :
- seed potatoes 2,6 - 2,8 million tonnes of production
- main—crop potatoes 13 to 14 million tonnes
- new potatoes approximately 2,2 million tonnes
Northern Europe and certain mountainous areas of central Europe (Freisland,  
Groningen, the Northern Polders, Lower Saxony, Bavaria, Scotland, Brittany)  
offer ideal conditions for the cultivation of seed potatoes which are  
excellent from the plant health point of view, especially in so far as virus  
diseases are concerned. Furthermore, the costs of producing main—crop  
potatoes are lower, on account of the high yields, in central and northern  
Europe. The natural production areas for new potatoes are the Mediterranean  
countries, which export large quantities to northern Europe. New potatoes  
produced in Germany and the United Kingdom are marketed and used only in each  
of those countries.
Trade is therefore two-way :  seed potatoes and main-crop potatoes go from  
north to south while new potatoes grown in the south are exported north.  
Potatoes can truly be regarded as an exclusively Community crop in that under  
normal harvest conditions no world trade exists. Only seed potatoes are  
exported to other continents, while new potatoes are marketed around the  
Mediterranean area.

-  2 -
Intra-Community trade in main-crop potatoes and seed potatoes accounts for 8  
to 10% of total production while that in new potatoes accounts for about 20%.
Imports from non-member countries amount to approximately 18% of Community  
production of new potatoes and around 4% of seed potato production.

- 3 -
1. Definition of new potatoes
The Geneva standards.define new potatoes as "potatoes harvested before full  
n'sturity, marketed immediately after being lifted and whose skins may be  
removed easily by friction or scraping".
In Mediterranean coastal regions new potatoes are grown in winter and  
harvested towards the end of February.
They are marketed from then until early July. According to the CCT, new  
potatoes falling within tariff subheading 07.01 A II are not sold after  
30 June.
New potatoes are grown from early varieties of seed potatoes of Dutch,  
German, English, French, etc. origin. Early potatoes which are allowed to  
reach full maturity may be marketed as main-crop potatoes. This occurs in  
Italy and Germany in particular.

- 4 -
2. Community production
Community production of new potatoes is around 2,2 million tonnes. It has  
remained virtually unchanged since 1972 but production is falling in the  
central and northern countries and increasing in the south.
— For example, production in Germany fell from 803.000 t in 1972 to
405.000 t in 1983 (down 50%);
- in France it fell from 517.000 t in 1972 to 422.000 t in 1983 (down 18%),  
and
— in the United Kingdom it fell from 465.000 t in 1972 to 322.000 t in 1983  
(down 31%).
Over the same period production in Italy rose from 324.000 t to 488.000 t  
(up 51%) and production in Greece rose from 317.000 t in 1975 to 386.000 t  
in 1983 (up 22%). It would appear, therefore, that the production of new  
potatoes will continue to rise in southern Europe while that of main-crop  
and seed potatoes rises in northern Europe.
The new potato crop in the Community accounts for approximately 7% of total  
Community production.

- 5 -
3· Production regions and varieties
Since the crop is an early one, the areas in which it is grown are  
invariably warm ones. In the Mediterranean countries this means coastal  
regions or as close to the sea, while in northern Europe it generally means  
river valleys.
The most important production regions are the following :
Germany (Rhineland-Pfalz,  etc.) - production 405.000 t in 1983
France (Brittany, Perpignan, etc.) " 422.000 t " "
Italy (Sicily, Apulia, Naples, Bologna, etc.) " 488.000 t " "
United Kingdom (Jersey, Wales, England, etc.) " 322.000 t " "
Greece (Kolamata, Peloponnese, etc.) " 386.000 t " "
Belgium (Flanders) " 80.000 t " "
Luxembourg (Moselle Valley) " 1.000 t " "
Germany and the United Kingdom do not export. Their output is distributed  
on the domestic market. Italy, France, Greece and Belgium, on the other  
hand, are exporting countries.
The varieties grown are generally early varieties.
The varieties grown in Germany are Atica, Gloria, Sieglinde, Saskia, etc.,  
while the Dutch varieties Spunta, Sirtema, Jaerla, Ostara and Nicola are  
grown in Italy, Greece, France, Belgium, etc.
The German Sieglinde variety is also grown in certain regions of Italy.
In the United Kingdom the English white-fleshed varieties Ulster Sceptre,  
Royal Kidney, Arran Comet, Pentland Javelin, etc. are distributed.

-  6 -
4. Imports from non-member countries
Despite a production of around 2,2 million tonnes the Community fails to  
meet internal demand and 350.000 - 380.000 t are imported every year from  
countries in the Mediterranean basin.
These countries import seed potatoes from Northern Europe, grow new  
potatoes and export them to northern Europe. As stated above, there is  
therefore a two-way trade.
The principal non—member countries producing new potatoes are .
Cyprus, Egypt, Spain and Morocco.
Of the varieties marketed, Cyprus exports mainly the Dutch Spunta and  
Nicola varieties and the English Maris Piper and Arran Banner varieties.  
Spain exports the French Claustar and the English Royal Kidney and Pentland  
Dell varieties. Morocco exports mainly the Dutch Sientje variety while  
Egypt exports the English King Edward.

- 7 -
5. Marketing season
The marketing season lasts for four or five months from the end of February  
to the beginning of July.
Intra-Community trade is of the order of 350.000 - 420.000 t while imports  
from non-member countries account for 350.000 - 380.000 t. In all, 700.000  
- 800.000 t of new potatoes are marketed each year.
The timetable for exports, which can vary with the weather, is generally as  
follows :
Community countries
Italy :  Basically from March to the beginning of July (250.000 -
300.000t t exported; approximately 34% of total Community  
imports)
Greece :  Basically from April to June (approximately 40.000 t exported;
around 5% of total Community imports)
France :  Basically from the end of May to the end of June (approximately
45.000 t exported; around 6% of total Community imports).
Belgium, too, exports small quantities (2.000 - 3.000 t) to Germany and the  
United Kingdom around the month of May.
Non-member countries
Basically from February to May (approximately 50.000 t  
exported; around 6% of total Community imports)
Basically from February to June (approximately
140.000 t exported; around 18% of total Community  
imports)
Basically from February to May (approximately 80.000 t  
exported; around 10% of total Community imports)
Basically from March to June (approximately 75.000 t  
exported; around 9% of total Community imports).Maghreb countries :  
Cyprus :
E g y p t  :
Spain :

-  8 -
Supplies to the Community market are phased in relation to the geographical  
location of the supplying countries. The earliest imports are from the  
North African countries (Morocco, Egypt) and Cyprus in February and March,  
then from Sicily, Apulia and Spain in April and finally from Brittany but  
not until the end of May.
Since new potatoes are grown in winter the timetable for exports can  
undergo major alteration depending on weather conditions. The quantities  
exported also vary from one season to another.
Traditional trade patterns are as follows :
Italy :  mainly to Germany and in smaller quantities to France,
Belgium and the Netherlands
Greece :  mainly to Germany and the United Kingdom and in smaller
quantities to Belgium and the Netherlands
France :  mainly to Germany and the United Kingdom
Maghreb countries :  to France
Spain :  to the United Kingdom, Germany and France
Cyprus :  mainly to the United Kingdom and in smaller quantities
to Germany and Belgium
Egypt :  mainly to the United Kingdom.

- 9 -
6. Trade arrangements
The situation at present is marked by a certain lack of harmony between the  
Member States.
When price trends dictate, some Member States apply national measures on  
the domestic market while imports from non—member countries are controlled  
by timetable and/or quota arrangements. Other Member States do not apply  
any measures.
Steps taken on a regular basis are as follows :
France
1. Quota of 15.000 t for imports from Spain within a fixed period (1 April  
to 15 May) and minimum prices.
2. Quota of 10.000 for imports from Egypt within a fixed period (1 to  
30 April) and minimum prices.
3. Minimum prices with no quantitative limitation from 1 January to 30 June  
for imports from the Maghreb countries.
Germany
1 January to 25 May :  Unrestricted imports
25 May to 31 December :  Ban on imports
Community countries :  Unrestricted imports
Belgium
Belgium has a timetable for imports which is not applied in practice :
15 May to 1 June :  Ban on imports from non-OECD countries
1 June to 13 July :  Ban on imports from all except Community countries.

-  10  -
7. Characteristic features of the market in new potatoes
Exports of new potatoes begin towards the end of February.^ Since supplies  
are small there are generally no major market problems during the early  
marketing period.
Towards May and June, however, problems can arise due to the build-up of  
supplies from various sources and also the fact that at this period stocks  
of main-crop potatoes are still available on the market.
When stocks of main-crop potatoes are plentiful the prices for new potatoes  
fall rapidly. In surplus years new potatoes can cost three to four times  
more than main-crop potatoes and consumers prefer to buy the latter  
lower-priced product which can be cooked in various ways.
New potatoes cost more because output per hectare is small and there are  
extra transport costs.
May and June are therefore the most difficult months in the new potato  
marketing season.
A survey of several marketing seasons confirms that low prices for  
main-crop potatoes give rise to similarly low prices for new potatoes.
A comparison between prices on the Rotterdam market, the world s largest  
market for main-crop potatoes, and those on the Munich market, a major  
market for imports of new potatoes, gives the following results :

- 11 -
ECU/kg
Rotterdam Munich
1973/74 5,60 13,67
1974/75 4,56 17,74
1975/76 21,75 31,43
1976/77 14,10 20,59
1977/78 3,09 13,68
1978/79 5,91 15,76
1979/80 6,30 17,49
1980/81 8,40 19,79
1981/82 10,65 35,56
1982/83 6,23 17,96
1983/84 21,50 39,15
Rotterdam :  Bintje + 35 mm, loose, free at Rotterdam
Munich :  Sirtema from Naples in 25 kg bags, free at Munich.
In surplus years (1974/75, 1977/78, 1978/79, 1982/83) new potatoes cost 3  
to 4 times more than main-crop potatoes. In years of shortfall (1975/76,  
1976/77) the difference is less marked. The attached diagram has been  
drawn up on the basis of these prices.

12
(a) Conclusions
As we have seen, the difference between new potatoes and main-crop  
potatoes is marginal. If new potatoes are left in the ground they can be  
marketed as main-crop potatoes. We have seen also that the production of  
potatoes fails to meet domestic demand. Even after Spain joins the  
Community there will be a shortfall and approximately 280.000 t of new  
potatoes will continue to be imported from Cyprus, Egypt and Morocco,  
countries which have a traditional trade with the United Kingdom and  
France.
The market in new potatoes and that in main-crop potatoes are fairly  
closely linked. The existence or otherwise of large stocks of main-crop  
potatoes at the end of the marketing season has a fairly marked influence  
on the outcome of the season for new potatoes. If a common market  
organization for new potatoes were to be established, therefore, it should  
also include main-crop potatoes. This would ensure that any measures  
proposed in respect of one of the products would be in line with those  
applicable to the other.
The Commission therefore reiterates its view that a common market
organization tor potatoes / cover Dotn mam-crop potatoes ana new  
potatoes. It does not support the idea of including new potatoes alone in  
the Regulation on the common organization of the market in fruit and  
vegetables.

MARKET PRICES FOR POTATOES 1974-84VI/1136/84-EN  
ECU/100 kg
1974 '75 7 6  ’  7 7  78 79 8 0  8 1  8 2  8 3  8 4