Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller announced that the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) has been alerted to an unsolicited package from China sent to Clute, containing unknown seeds and a liquid container. The announcement was made in a press release on February 5, 2025.

According to the TDA, the unsolicited package containing unidentified seeds and a liquid container was sent to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service for analysis. The U.S. Postal Service temporarily halted but later resumed accepting packages from China and Hong Kong following tariff changes. The TDA advises anyone receiving foreign seed packages to keep them sealed and report them immediately.

"Folks, please take this matter seriously," said Miller. "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 will work diligently to identify these unknown seeds and liquids to protect Texas residents."

The TDA, established by the Texas Legislature in 1907, works to support production agriculture, consumer protection, economic development, and healthy living. Headquartered in Austin, it operates five regional service offices, two sub-offices, three laboratories, and five livestock export facilities.

Miller is the 12th Texas Agriculture Commissioner. An eighth-generation farmer and rancher born in De Leon, Texas, he graduated from Tarleton State University with a degree in Vocational Ag Education. Miller served in the Texas House of Representatives starting in 2000 before being elected Agriculture Commissioner in 2014; he was re-elected in 2018 and 2022.