Skootzkitty's Litter Box of Stuff

BERNE, Switzerland (Reuters) - 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.

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Whew! Glad they got that settled! Wouldn't be football without chips and sausage! So happy they have cervelats in reserve! But this puzzles me: '"with the remaining 2,000 used for other forms of potato'" So like what other forms of potato? Does potato have other forms other than a tuber? Like maybe star form? Or perhaps little cute animal form? Ah..I love it when things are lost in translation. 'I'd like potato please' 'What form?' 'Ummmm Liger please!'