Texas – Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller urged residents to exercise extreme caution if they receive unsolicited packages containing unknown seeds or liquids. The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) was recently alerted to a mystery package delivered to Clute, Texas, containing unidentified seeds and a liquid container, sent unsolicited from China.
“Folks, please take this matter seriously,” Miller said. “Receiving any unsolicited liquid or chemical at your doorstep poses a significant risk to the health of you and your family. We also cannot allow unidentified seeds to enter Texas. If planted, invasive plant species will substantially harm the Texas agriculture industry.”
The TDA forwarded the package to the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) for identification and testing. Additional information will be provided as it becomes available.
Following the implementation of heightened tariffs on China, the United States Postal Service (USPS) temporarily halted the acceptance of inbound packages from China and Hong Kong on Tuesday, though service has since resumed. Residents are advised to remain vigilant.
Anyone receiving a foreign package containing seeds should not open it. The contents should remain sealed in their original packaging, and the TDA should be contacted immediately at (800) TELL-TDA.
