diff --git a/app/models/shared_supplier.rb b/app/models/shared_supplier.rb
index dc6ef201..5108a703 100644
--- a/app/models/shared_supplier.rb
+++ b/app/models/shared_supplier.rb
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ class SharedSupplier < ActiveRecord::Base
   # return list of synchronisation methods available for this supplier
   def shared_sync_methods
     methods = []
-    methods += %w(all_available all_unavailable) if shared_articles.count < 200
+    methods += %w(all_available all_unavailable) if shared_articles.count < FoodsoftConfig[:shared_supplier_article_sync_limit]
     methods += %w(import) # perhaps, in the future: if shared_articles.count > 20
     methods
   end
diff --git a/config/app_config.yml.SAMPLE b/config/app_config.yml.SAMPLE
index 929e5538..b758c6cc 100644
--- a/config/app_config.yml.SAMPLE
+++ b/config/app_config.yml.SAMPLE
@@ -162,6 +162,8 @@ default: &defaults
   # Instead of defining all details here, you can also point to an entry in database.yml.
   #shared_lists: shared_lists
 
+  # default to allow sync only on less than 200 articles
+  #shared_supplier_article_sync_limit: 200,
 development:
   <<: *defaults
 
diff --git a/lib/foodsoft_config.rb b/lib/foodsoft_config.rb
index c4d4a3eb..9c039baa 100644
--- a/lib/foodsoft_config.rb
+++ b/lib/foodsoft_config.rb
@@ -256,6 +256,7 @@ class FoodsoftConfig
         contact: {}, # avoid errors when undefined
         tasks_period_days: 7,
         tasks_upfront_days: 49,
+        shared_supplier_article_sync_limit: 200,
         # The following keys cannot, by default, be set by foodcoops themselves.
         protected: {
           multi_coop_install: true,