Source: NZ Department of Conservation
The 2026 Chinese New Year is on Tuesday February 17, entering the Year of the Horse. As part of the celebrations, many people will be sharing gifts, including American ginseng and other traditional Chinese medicines.
Some of these products contain ingredients from species protected under CITES. To bring them into New Zealand, you need a CITES permit. Without a permit these items could be seized.
What is CITES
CITES, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna, is an agreement between countries that regulates the illegal wildlife trade – the fourth biggest illegal activity worldwide behind arms, drugs and human trafficking.
CITES is one of the oldest conservation agreements in the world, and aims to ensure the international trade in wild animals and plants does not threaten the survival of species. ‘Trade’ in this instance refers to any movement of specimens or items across international borders.
Each country puts the agreement into law through their own legislation. In New Zealand this is the Trade in Endangered Species (TIES) Act 1989.
CITES covers over 40,000 species. This includes many plant and animal species used in traditional Chinese medicine, including Tiān Má, Renshen Guipi Wan, Shí Hú and American ginseng.
Traditional or alternative medicines which contain CITES species come in various forms. Some are raw materials or ingredients like whole and sliced roots and stems. Others are in commercial medicine packages like tablets, pills and plasters.
How does it work?
Regulation of the international wildlife trade requires international co-operation, and CITES provides this framework. CITES regulates and monitors the trade in plants, animals and their parts as they cross international borders. Once a species is CITES listed, it requires imports and exports to be authorised through a permitting system.
Because CITES is species-based, items that were sustainably harvested, hunted or farmed still require permits if their species is protected.
What happens at the border?
In New Zealand, MPI and NZ Customs detain suspected CITES items at the border for DOC’s CITES Officers to check and follow up. This includes items carried by international air passengers, cruise ship passengers or private boat users, or sent via international mail or freight.
People who bring in traditional medicines containing CITES protected species without the correct permits will have the product confiscated and may be fined or prosecuted.
Having items seized by border authorities can be embarrassing and disappointing for travellers and family members coming to celebrate. The best way to avoid these situations is to simply not bring these products into New Zealand.
Traditional Chinese medicines and American ginseng are both widely available here online, and in retail stores, so you do not need to import them. Buying within New Zealand also supports local businesses, makes it much easier for buyers, and generates economic activity in our communities.
Chinese New Year Festival and Market Day
In Auckland, the Chinese New Year Festival and Market Day will be on Saturday 14 February 2026 at the Auckland showgrounds. Staff from the CITES team will be onsite to provide more information about CITES and what you need to do if you want to bring CITES-protected traditional medicines into New Zealand.
Where do I start?
If you are buying traditional medicines online or having them sent or brought in by family overseas, make sure to check the rules on our website first.
Have a look at the CITES information on the DOC website. There is a special section, here, which lists traditional Chinese medicines covered by CITES. There are also CITES website pages in Simplified Chinese and Traditional Chinese. CITES is complex, so if you need help working out what you need to do for a specific item, email us at cites@doc.govt.nz.
