Recently in Shantou Customs District, two quarantine weeds of ripgut (Latin: Bromus rigidus Roth) and wild red oat (Latin: Avena sterilis L.) were seized by Guang’ao Customs House in a batch of oats imported from Australia.

According to customs officers, ripgut and wild red oat, both malignant weeds detrimental to crops and forage grass in the field, are listed in China’s directory of entry quarantine plants. If such quarantine weeds invade and grow, domestic eco-environment and agriculture will be damaged and suffer economic loss to certain extent.    

In order to prevent the invasive safety risks, Guang’ao Customs took tighter control over the imported oats in their loading/unloading, transport and warehousing that were supported by quarantine measures against harmful weeds.