by Annie Curie,
Political Science major
The answer is nothing, unless you count labeling her latest album a biohazard. Have you ever wondered why you are unable to bring certain flowers and seeds into the United States? Or why you are not able to just bring your pet monkey to Germany?
Though seemingly unrelated, the answer to these questions is related to Australia’s response to Katy Perry’s latest album Prism. When Perry’s production company released the album, they included a seed packet for each customer to plant.
The CDs sold in Australian contained local plants native to Western Australia, but U.S. versions are cheaper and contain a seed declared a biohazard by Australia’s Department of Agriculture.
But why is a seed packet, which seems so environmentally friendly, labeled a potential biohazard?
The answer is simple: it could become an invasive species.
An invasive species is a non-native species that could harm an ecosystem. The Department of Agriculture, by preventing the entry of foreign species, is attempting to prevent the destruction of Australia’s wide array of ecosystems.
But don’t worry, Australian nationals can still purchase the Australian version of Prism. And those flowers you wanted to bring home from Holland? Totally fine, so long as you check in with United States Customs and Border Protection first!
This blog post was an assignment for Societal Issues: Pesticides, Alternatives and the Environment (PLNTPTH 4597). The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the class, Department of Plant Pathology or the instructor.