Hoodia gordonii products do not require a formal FDA authorization to be marketed.

As Hoodia gordonii products are considered dietary supplements, they must fulfill the provisions stated in the DIETARY SUPPLEMENT HEALTH AND EDUCATION ACT OF 1994.

FDA traditionally considered dietary supplements to be composed only of essential nutrients, such as vitamins, minerals, and proteins. The Nutrition Labeling and Education Act of 1990 added "herbs, or similar nutritional substances," to the term "dietary supplement." Through the DSHEA, Congress expanded the meaning of the term "dietary supplements" beyond essential nutrients to include such substances as ginseng, garlic, fish oils, psyllium, enzymes, glandulars, and mixtures of these.