All plants imported for growing or propagation must meet plant health permit and quarantine requirements. When in a foreign country, travelers should contact their embassy to clarify any questions about these requirements. These managing authorities are the best places to get answers to questions about requirements in foreign countries. I plants that actually were collected from the wild or to hide endangered plants in baggage when returning from international travel. The United States is the world's largest consumer of wildlife and their products, followed by Japan and Western Europe.
Consumers can assist international efforts to protect wildlife by becoming better informed.
Reducing demand for wild-collected endangered plants is a critical part of efforts to sustain wild flora populations. However, many plants listed in Appendix I are artificially propagated and are available for purchase from reputable nurseries and other botanical sources. The effort to reduce demand does not mean that no one can have or grow these exotic, often rare plants. Always buy plants from reputable sources. Remember that most cycads and all orchids and cacti are endangered species.