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Hoodia Diet Pill Shipments Being Detained at Canadian Border by Wildlife Enforcement Officers |
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Written by Wire Services/Staff
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Monday, 28 August 2006 |
Shipments of Hoodia, the latest appetite suppressant craze throughout North America have been detained at various Canadian border entry sites because they contain an endangered African plant species.
Canadian federal wildlife and customs officials have detained and seized over 2,000 of shipments of the increasingly popular diet pills since May 2006. Many Hoodia distributers are now relying on the positive media exposure of the supplement after it was featured on a prominent television news magazine and print media providers. All are touting Hoodia as safe, natural and highly effective.
Wildlife enforcement officers are reporting daily interceptions at international mail centres, courier facilities and airports in Montreal, Quebec City, Mississauga, Calgary and Vancouver because importers do not have the proper permits namely Appendix II of the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
Hoodia Gordoni is a stem succulent plant indigenous to the African regions of Namibia and Botswana whose people have used the plant as treatments for various infections and stomach upsets like common indigestion. Hoodia is sold in either powder form or in capsules. The active ingredient is p57.
To protect this threatened species, Environment Canada is requesting that consumers ensure that before they order hoodia diet pills, that the pills are being imported legally with a proper permit. Consumers who order without proof of a valid CITES permit risk not receiving their purchase. Shipments without a valid CITES export or re-export permit will be detained by Environment Canada wildlife enforcement officers or by Canada Border Services Agency customs officers. Officers are not legally permitted to release products without the proper permit and an importer cannot obtain such a permit after the fact.
More information can be found at www.cites.ec.gc.ca .
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