GINSENG PROGRAM

The North Dakota Department of Agriculture is responsible for administration of the state Ginseng law (NDCC 4-39).

Ginseng is regulated because wild American ginseng is protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). CITES is an international trade agreement which the United States has agreed to. The purpose of the Convention is to regulate the international trade of certain endangered species to prevent adverse impacts to their populations.

The United States Fish and Wildlife Service is responsible for assuring that the provisions of the Convention are met and has established a joint ginseng management program with states to monitor and regulate ginseng harvest and commerce.