Hoodia Certifications: Setting Your CITES

When you are buying hoodia gordonii, you often hear about CITES certificates and may wonder what this means or whether it is really important. CITES stands for the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora and they monitor the issuance of a CITES certificate to export hoodia gordonii from South Africa and Namibia. Hoodia gordonii is a rare plant in great demand because of its natural appetite suppressant capabilities and CITES protects it from extinction.

Setting CITES Because It's The Law

It is illegal to export hoodia gordonii from South Africa and Namibia without a CITES certificate. This rare plant species is threatened by extinction so it is essential to monitor international trade by issuing CITES certificates from the proper authorities.

The regulation of importing and re-exporting rare species such as hoodia gordonii in the United States is regulated by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), a part of the Department of Homeland Security called the United States Customs Service and the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). United States laws require a CITES certificate with shipments of hoodia and a permit to import terrestrial plants from the USDA. There is also a CITES certificate required to re-export hoodia gordonii according to United States law. Having a CITES certificate ensures the legitimate distribution of real hoodia from South Africa.

Protecting Hoodia Gordonii

For thousands of years, hoodia gordonii was used by San Bushmen in South Africa to ward off hunger and thirst during long hunting trips in dry regions. Hoodia gordonii grew wild for centuries in abundance and then became popular in the past two decades as a way to suppress appetites throughout the world. As the demand for hoodia gordonii grew more rapidly than the plants, this natural resource was threatened by extinction and CITES certificates were established to protect them.

Further, the San people have an interest in the distribution of hoodia gordonii because it is one of their valuable natural resources. Government controls, regulations and licenses are required to harvest and export hoodia gordonii. The hoodia gordonii plant, the industry and the customer are protected by the laws and certifications issued and it is important to purchase products with CITES certificates.

Purchasing hoodia gordonii products with a CITES certificate gives you peace of mind knowing you are getting this powerful natural appetite suppressant from a legitimate source.

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