Swiss government says Euro 2008 fans can have their chips

      The Swiss government has agreed to ease restrictions on the importation of potatoes following fears that Euro 2008 football fans could face a shortage of French fries next month.

      A spokesman for the country's department of agriculture told national radio on Wednesday that the government would allow an additional 5,000 tonnes of potatoes to be brought in.

      The decision follows a request by Swiss potato industry association Swisspatat who warned that supplies were already running low in the buildup to the June tournament.

      The association has estimated that 3,000 additional tonnes will be needed to make chips for foreign supporters, with the remaining 2,000 used for other forms of potato.

      Switzerland has already been fretting over dwindling supplies of its beloved 'cervelat' sausage following a European Union ban on the Brazilian cows' intestines traditionally used to encase the meat.

      Economics minister Doris Leuthard, who is also responsible for agriculture, told the national parliament in March there were enough cervelats in reserve to last at least through Euro 2008.

      The tournament runs from June 7 to 29 and will be co-hosted by Switzerland and neighbouring Austria.

      2008年“欧洲杯”足球赛将于下月开幕，因担心炸薯条在此期间供不应求，瑞士政府日前批准放宽土豆进口限制。

      瑞士农业部发言人于本周三接受全国广播电台的采访时说，政府将批准再进口五千吨土豆。

      应瑞士马铃薯行业协会Swisspatat的申请，瑞士政府做出了这一决定。瑞士马铃薯协会此前发出警告，瑞士国内的土豆供应在“欧洲杯”开幕前已开始出现短缺。

      据瑞士马铃薯协会估计，在额外进口的土豆中，其中三千吨将做成薯片供应外国球迷，另外两千吨将做成其它土豆类食品。

      熏香肠是瑞士人最爱的食品之一，但由于欧盟禁止其成员国进口用于制作香肠的巴西牛肠，瑞士已为熏香肠供应不足而大伤脑筋。

      瑞士经济兼农业部长多利斯•卢瑟德于三月在议会上说，目前瑞士的熏香肠储备量至少能维持“欧洲杯”比赛期间的供应。

      2008年“欧洲杯”将于下月7日至29日举行，由瑞士及其邻国奥地利联合主办。