note: CITES stands for the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species which lists ginseng as one of many plant and animal species that need protection.

• CITES permits are required for export of American ginseng, and must be obtained from the FWS’s Division of Management Authority (DMA).

  • Complete and submit export application form 3-200-34 to DMA (download at: http://www.fws.gov/forms/3-200-34.pdf).

  • Photocopies of your valid State ginseng dealer's permit or license, and of your valid U.S. Department of Agriculture General Permit must be submitted with your application.

  • For the upcoming harvest season, applications for wild ginseng should be submitted to DMA no sooner than July 15th.

  • Applications for wild ginseng from prior harvest seasons may be submitted at any time.

  • Wild ginseng collected in different harvest seasons require separate CITES exports permits issued specific to the season that the ginseng was collected in.

  • Allow DMA 60 days to process your application.

  • A complete original CITES export permit plus two complete copies of that permit, a complete Wild Ginseng Export Report, the original State Certificates, and a shipper's invoice are all required at the time of export. CITES export permits are valid for six months.

  • For more information, contact DMA at:
phone:1-800-358-2104 or 1-703-358-2104;
Fax:1-703-358-2281;
E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Web Address: http://www.fws.gov/permits

Provided by the American Herbal Products Association, in cooperation with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and United Plant Savers