The USDA is investigating packages of unsolicited seeds that have been sent to Americans and appear to be coming from China.
USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is working closely with the Department of Homeland Security’s Customs and Border Protection, other federal agencies, and State departments of agriculture to investigate the situation. It is currently collecting seed packages from recipients and will test their contents and determine if they contain anything that could be of concern to U.S. agriculture or the environment. It is urging Americans who receive unsolicited packages of seeds in the mail to contact their state plant regulatory official or the APHIS state plant health director.
“At this time, we don’t have any evidence indicating this is something other than a ‘brushing scam’ where people receive unsolicited items from a seller who then posts false customer reviews to boost sales,” the USDA said in a statement.
Related: USDA, FDA Work to Prevent Food Chain Interruption; USDA Employees Test Positive for COVID-19.
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