(Photo: Canadian Food Inspection Agency)
There are more reports to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency regarding unknown seeds being sent through the mail.
The CFIA has now received more than 750 reports of the packages of seeds arriving in mailboxes across the country, but they have not been requested.
Based on visual inspections carried out to date, the seeds appear to be low risk, however, Canadians are being cautioned to not plant these seeds from unknown origins.
The packages are postmarked from several different countries and are declared as toys or jewellery. They are from a range of plant species including tomato, strawberry, rose and citrus, as well as some weed seeds that are common in Canada.
It is still unclear as to why they are receiving the seeds or where they are coming from.
We have an update on our work regarding reports of Canadians receiving unrequested packages of seeds. Read about it here: https://t.co/CQJijh38WK pic.twitter.com/1NtcgC2Hra
— Canadian Food Inspection Agency (@InspectionCan) August 6, 2020
The CFIA asks Canadians who receive seeds they did not order to:
- Put the seeds, packaging, and mailing label in a sealed bag inside a second sealed bag.
- Report them to a regional CFIA office.
- Await further direction from the CFIA.
- Refrain from planting, flushing, or composting the seeds to avoid them sprouting and spreading.
If you no longer have the seeds but still have the packaging, set them aside and report it to the CFIA.
