Katy Perry's album declared a biohazard in Australia due to seed giveaway

The singer's number one album Prism risks damaging delicate ecology

Katy Perry singing at the iTunes festival (GETTY IMAGES)

Some critics claimed Katy Perry's new album was hazardous to the ears, but Australian officials have dubbed Prism a genuine "bio-security concern".

The Department of Agriculture believes that seed paper [which grows when planted] given away with a deluxe version of the album could pose a risk to the country, with security officers ordered to inspect new copies from overseas.

Currently sitting at the summit of the Australian album chart, the "Roar" singer encouraged her fans to plant the seeds and "spread the light" via her Twitter page, now the most followed in the world after she overtook Justin Bieber at the weekend.

Strict custom laws mean that copies of Prism arriving from abroad could be confiscated by border control, as plant materials from outside the country must be thoroughly assessed before entry.

The Australian release contains Swan River daisy seeds that are considered harmless, but fans are still able to purchase international copies online.

A department spokesperson told news.com.au: "Seeds or plant material of international origin may be a weed not present in Australia or the host of a plant pathogen of bio-security concern.

"Our bio-security officers at international airports, seaports and mail centres assess the risks associated with various items every day and are well-trained in making informed decisions about whether items could be of bio-security concern."