OTTAWA,
August 28, 2006 – Thousands of diet pill shipments
ordered by Canadians are arriving at Canada's
borders and being detained by federal wildlife
and customs officials because they contain an
endangered African plant species called hoodia.
Hoodia has been featured on
Sixty Minutes, in O, The Oprah Magazine and in
other media as an effective, safe, natural appetite
suppressant. Foreign marketers, based predominantly
in the U.S., are advertising to Canadians who
place orders, often unaware that the seller is
outside Canada.
Since May 2006, these diet pill
shipments have been intercepted daily at international
mail centres, courier facilities and airports
in Montreal, Quebec City, Mississauga, Calgary
and Vancouver because importers do not have the
proper permits. So far, in excess of 2,000 shipments
have been detained. No charges have been laid,
but federal Wildlife Officers may charge importers
who have not obtained the proper permits.
Hoodia is a cactus-like plant
native to Namibia, Botswana and South Africa.
It is usually sold in powdered form or in capsules.
A bottle of 60 pills usually costs between $30
and $45. Since 2005, the plant has been listed
under Appendix II of the Convention on the International
Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and
Flora (CITES). There is legal trade in hoodia,
which is managed by the CITES international permit
system which helps ensure that wild populations
of plants are not threatened by international
trade. In order for a shipment of hoodia specimens,
parts, or products to be legally exported from,
it must be accompanied by a CITES Appendix-II
permit or certificate issued by the CITES Management
Authority of the country of export.
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.
Environment Canada Wildlife
Enforcement Division works in close cooperation
with the Canada Border Services Agency as well
as other federal, provincial and international
enforcement agencies to protect species at risk
both in Canada and abroad. Further information
on CITES in Canada may be found at www.cites.ec.gc.ca
Sheldon Jordan
Director, Wildlife Enforcement, Quebec Region
