Karoo Hoodia

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora

CITES - International Agreement between Governments.

The Demand for Hoodia gordonii has in no time skyrocketed. This lead to unscrupulous behavior, and law and order had to be enforced. Hoodia is also seen as a "Miracle Plant" and government officials could not stand and watch while the species had been plundered or ultimately, destroyed. Strict rules and regulations enforces the law around all aspects of Hoodia gordonii - the cultivation, exporting, harvesting and trading are kept under control. There is certificates, permits and documentation needed when trading with Hoodia gordonii.

Obesity became a major factor in the United States of America and most people took refuge to Hoodia gordonii. Most Hoodia originated in South Africa and because of the trading of these material across borders between countries, the effort to regulate it requires international cooperation to safeguard certain species from over-exploitation. CITES was conceived in the spirit of such cooperation. Today, it accords varying degrees of protection to more than 30,000 species of animals and plants, whether they are traded as live specimens, fur coats or dried herbs.

CITES is an international agreement to which States (countries) adhere voluntarily. States that have agreed to be bound by the Convention ('joined' CITES) are known as Parties. Although CITES is legally binding on the Parties – in other words they have to implement the Convention – it does not take the place of national laws. Rather it provides a framework to be respected by each Party, which has to adopt its own domestic legislation to ensure that CITES is implemented at the national level. >> Visit the CITES