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Mysterious, potentially dangerous seeds arriving by surprise mail
Mysterious, potentially dangerous seeds arriving by surprise mail

People around the country, and North Carolina, have received unsolicited packages from China with seeds in them. They may be labeled as earrings, which makes them all the more suspicious. PLEASE DO NOT plant these seeds. The issue is NOT that they come from China. The issue is that they are being sent illegally without being ordered, from outside the U.S. At this point, we have no idea if they are an accidental, or intentional pathway to introduce invasive species, insects, or plant diseases that could be devastating to our agricultural economy or health.

International shipments of plant material are unlawful and the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is asking anyone who receives one of these unsolicited foreign shipments to save the contents along with all shipping labels and contact the Plant Industry Division toll-free at 800-206-9333 or email at newpest@ncagr.gov. Plant Industry staff will contact you to gather information and pick up the package. As a precaution, it is recommended that you not open or inspect the contents once you realize what it is.


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