Betel
Legal Status
U.S. FEDERAL LAW #
Caution : All legal information should be verified through other sources. [see below]
U.S. FEDERAL LEGAL SUMMARY | |
Areca catechu | |
REGULATED | No |
STATUS | - - - |
SCHEDULE | Un-Scheduled |
Betel Nut (Areca catechu) is uncontrolled in the United States. This means all parts of the plant and its extracts are legal to cultivate, buy, possess, and distribute (sell, trade or give) without a license or prescription. If sold as a supplement, sales must conform to U.S. supplement laws. If sold for consumption as a food or drug, sales are regulated by the FDA.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued an import alert resulting in automatic detention of betel if it is detected by U.S. Customs officers (IA #23-06; revised July 17, 1992). Likewise, the U.S. Department of Agriculture enforces a prohibition against importation of betel nuts, which seems to apply only to nuts in raw or unprocessed condition (51 Agric. Dec. 1278, 1992 WL 515928 (U.S.D.A.) and 7 C.F.R. § 318.13). But there is also contradictory evidence which suggests that Betel Nuts may be legally imported in some forms. [Van McCrary, uh.edu]
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued an import alert resulting in automatic detention of betel if it is detected by U.S. Customs officers (IA #23-06; revised July 17, 1992). Likewise, the U.S. Department of Agriculture enforces a prohibition against importation of betel nuts, which seems to apply only to nuts in raw or unprocessed condition (51 Agric. Dec. 1278, 1992 WL 515928 (U.S.D.A.) and 7 C.F.R. § 318.13). But there is also contradictory evidence which suggests that Betel Nuts may be legally imported in some forms. [Van McCrary, uh.edu]
INTERNATIONAL LAW #
Australia #
Betel nuts are reportedly legal to cultivate, buy, sell, possess, and consume in all states in Australia. (unconfirmed) (thanks C)
China #
Betel nuts are reportedly legal to cultivate, buy, sell, possess, and consume in China. (unconfirmed) (thanks k) (last updated Apr 26 2010)
Taiwan #
Betel nuts are reportedly legal to cultivate, buy, sell, possess, and consume in all parts of Taiwan. (unconfirmed) (thanks GW)
Betel nut is uncontrolled in most countries.
If you have information about the legal status of this substance in any other country, please let us know.
CAUTION & DISCLAIMER #
Erowid legal information is a summary of data gathered from site visitors, government documents, websites, and other resources. We are not lawyers and can not guarantee the accuracy of the information provided here. We do our best to keep this information correct and up-to-date, but laws are complex and constantly changing. Laws may also vary from one jurisdiction to another (county, state, country, etc)...this list is not comprehensive.