Warning not to plant mystery seeds

Saturday 20 November 2021

Islanders are once again receiving unsolicited packets of seeds through the post.

The Committee for the Environment & Infrastructure is advising people who receive the seeds not to plant or compost them, to keep them away from children and pets and to wash their hands if they touch them.

Ideally, the seeds should be taken to the States' Analytical Laboratory at Longue Rue in St Martin's, the Guernsey Border Agency at the White Rock or the Police Station.

The seeds are received by households apparently at random and without any explanation about who sent them or why they were sent. The first reports of such packets were in 2020 and deliveries appear to have resumed recently.  

“These mystery seeds are presumed to be among potentially thousands of shipments reported in the US, Canada, New Zealand and Europe. The packages have raised biosecurity concerns and international investigations into their origins,” said Agriculture, Countryside and Land Management Services (ACLMS), a division of the Committee for the Environment & Infrastructure. 

Pictured: Anyone who receives unsolicited packets of seeds through the post is asked to keep them away from pets and children, wash their hands after touching them and avoid planting or composting them.

Many previous shipments of the seeds around the world have been traced to China. 

The seeds are believed to be part of what is called a “brushing scam”, where online sellers post products to generate a transaction, create fake reviews and boost business.

The authorities in Guernsey classify them as a biosecurity issue because they often arrive under the guise of being another product, are of unknown origin, are not declared as plant seeds and therefore do not go through plant health and customs checks as they should. 

“Anyone who has received one of these seed packets is urged not to plant or compost them as it is possible that they could be from non-native invasive plant species or could be carrying plant pests and diseases that are a risk to crops or the environment.

"The advice from the Guernsey Border Agency and Plant Health Inspector is to hand in the packets of seeds at the States' Analytical Laboratory at Longue Rue, St Martins so that they may be disposed of safely. Alternatively, they may be handed in to either the Police Station or to the Guernsey Border Agency at the White Rock.

"It is recommended that you do not open the packets and keep the seeds away from pets and children. It is also recommended that if you do handle the seeds that you wash your hands immediately afterwards."