When you start looking for Hoodia, you will run across the word C.I.T.E.S. It can be confusing if you are not sure what C.I.T.E.S. stands for, and many people do not understand how important C.I.T.E.S. is. C.I.T.E.S. stands for the Conservation on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. This treaty basically means that a specific company has to have permission to take certain animals and plants out of the country of their origin, in order to make sure that the plant or animal is not manipulated in any way while it is outside of the country.

Hoodia is one of those plants that falls under the C.I.T.E.S. jurisdiction. The only companies that can legally export the plant, or the extract from the plant, are those who have a C.I.T.E.S. permit that allows them to do so. It is vital that you ensure that whatever company you order your Hoodia from has a C.I.T.E.S. permit. A company who does not have a C.I.T.E.S. permit is either illegally purchasing the Hoodia gordonii or is lying about what they have in their product. Hoodia can work wonders, as long as there is enough legal Hoodia in the product.