The album’s deluxe version sells with flower seeds, authorities fear risk to wildlife

Nov 7, 2013 21:06 GMT  ·  By

It turns out Katy Perry is having some trouble marketing her latest album, “Prism,” in Australia. Not because people in this country are utterly against pop music, but because authorities have declared the album a potential biohazard.

As surprising as this may sound, it appears that the album was classified as a potential risk to natural ecosystems in Australia due to the fact that the deluxe version sells with a small packet of flower seeds.

According to Daily Mail, the singer has asked fans who purchase the deluxe version of “Prism” to take the time and plant the flower seeds they receive together with the album.

Katy Perry believes that, by doing so, they will help “spread the light.”

Unfortunately, authorities in Australia fear that some of the packets accompanying the album might contain seeds that are not native to the country, in which case it would be best if the “light” were to remain contained.

More precisely, they warn that, if the seeds are not native to Australia, the country's natural ecosystems risk being greatly disturbed by whatever invasive species spring from them.

The production company working with the singer has argued that the albums marketed in Australia sell with locally sourced Swan River daisy seeds alone, and therefore cannot possibly be a biohazard.

Authorities have responded that, even if this is indeed the case, the same cannot be said about international albums purchased online.

“Seeds or plant material of international origin may be a weed not present in Australia or the host of a plant pathogen of biosecurity concern,” said a spokesperson for Australia's Department of Agriculture.

“The Australian Government has a strong system in place to detect and respond to material of biosecurity concern,” the spokesperson stressed.

Investigations into where the seeds accompanying international “Prism” versions sold online come from are ongoing. Hopefully, more information will soon be shared with the public.