Is Hoodia Legal?

Navigating the complex regulations of endangered plants and supplement laws.

Is it Banned in the USA?

No. Hoodia gordonii is not a controlled substance in the United States. It is legal to possess and consume.

However, the FDA has sent warning letters to various manufacturers for making unsubstantiated medical claims (like "cures obesity"), which is illegal for any dietary supplement.

The CITES Restriction

Hoodia gordonii is listed in Appendix II of CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora).

This means:

• International trade is controlled to ensure the plant's survival.
• Exports from South Africa, Namibia, or Botswana require a specialized permit.
• Importing it without these papers is illegal smuggling.

Why Does It Matter?

These regulations make real Hoodia expensive and slow to acquire. If a company is churning out thousands of cheap bottles a month, they are likely bypassing these regulations—which suggests they aren't using real Hoodia at all.