The news comes following a series of face-to-face meetings between potato plant-health inspectors and UK officials and exporters. The visit of the Thai delegation was organised by the British Potato Council.

Somchai Charnnarongkul (pictured), Thailand's director of agricultural regulations led a group of pathologists and other staff from his plant quarantine department. They visited several seed-production facilities in Scotland and met representatives from the Scottish Agricultural Science Agency, Seerad, and the Plant Health Seed Inspectorate as well as exporters.

BPC head of seed and export, Alasdair MacLennan said: 'A simple misconception can have serious consequences for exports, so it pays to set the record straight. For example, until the differences are pointed out, British potatoes are often categorised as EU potatoes with little distinction made between the plant health status of member countries.

'We supply in the region of 2,000 tonnes of seed a year to Thailand. The Thai authorities wish to rationalise their seed potato supply base so it was essential that we seized the opportunity to ensure that Great Britain remains a key supplier.' Charnnarongkul said that the UK topped his list of potential seed suppliers.

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