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The Minister of Agriculture, Maria do Céu Antunes, called on Wednesday that packages of seeds from Asian countries that are arriving by mail be delivered to the competent entities, in order to protect “cultures and citizens.”
“We ask you to deliver them to the Regional Directorates of Agriculture and Fisheries or send them to the delegations of the General Directorate of Food and Veterinary Medicine”said the minister to journalists, during a visit to the old work that is being carried out in Quinta do Pessegueiro, in the municipality of São João da Pesqueira.
The governor asked the people to “Do not open, do not sow and do not throw away” these seeds, “Because they can become contaminated and can bring serious situations” like the covid-19 pandemic.
According to Maria do Céu Antunes, this “is not an exclusive situation” in Portugal, but also in the United States of America and other European countries.
“The packages arrive to the mailboxes of the people who do not say that they are seeds, some speak of jewels”, said.
The Ministry of Agriculture had already warned this Tuesday of this situation, explaining that, in addition to seeds of various species, the packages may contain soil, dead larvae or fungal structures.
The packages, whose content is not specified, are not accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate that certifies the requirements of the country, thus causing “Serious risks from the phytosanitary point of view, due to the possibility of spreading pests and diseases or even due to the danger that they are harmful or invasive species”he added.
