Members of the GGAA are to abide by the following standards:

  • the ginseng grower is a registered grower of the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (WDATCP) or the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and a member of the Ginseng Growers Association of America (GGAA).
  • the ginseng grower must select well-drained, non-contaminated virgin soil that is tested for chemical and heavy metal residues prior to cultivation.
  • the ginseng growers that use pesticides, classified by the EPA as Restricted Use Pesticides under 40 C.F.R. § 152.160 – 152.175, must be certified pesticide applicators under EPA regulations as set forth in 40 C.F.R. § 171.
  • freshly harvested ginseng roots must be processed in accordance to guidelines established by the GGAA. To ensure proper drying of roots, steps such as the following shall be taken:
    • Fresh ginseng roots must be cooled at temperatures above freezing, at 34-38 degrees Fahrenheit for two weeks after harvest. 
    • The roots must be thoroughly washed and dried at 100-105 degrees Fahrenheit until the water activity level of the ginseng roots are below 0.60. 
  • ginseng must be tested and meet the pesticide and heavy metal residues standards set forth by the GGAA organization (as listed below). The GGAA pesticide standard is more rigorous than that of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”)'s, as set forth in 40 C.F.R. § 180.
  • visual inspection and sampling of ginseng for the purposes of assessing pesticide and heavy metal residues shall be conducted by GGAA. Testing shall be conducted at GGAA’s designated laboratories or a USDA certified laboratory in the United States.

 

[Heavy Metals]

Lead: less than 5 ppm

Cadmium: less than 0.3 ppm

Arsenic: less than 2 ppm

Mercury: less than 0.2 ppm

Copper: less than 20 ppm

 

[Pesticides Residues]

BHC (Benzene Hexa Chloride):  less than 0.2 ppm

DDT (Dichloro-Diphenyl-Trichloroethane):  less than 0.2 ppm

PCNB (PentaChloroNitroBenzene):  less than 0.1 ppm

HCB (Hexachlorobenzene): less than 0.1mg/kg

Heptachlor: less than 0.05mg/kg

Aldrin: less than 0.05mg/kg

Chlordane: less than 0.1mg/kg

 

[Other Examinations]

Fibers: less than 10%

Roots damaged by disease: 0% 

Impurity: less than 0.5%

Moisture: less than 13%

Ash: less than 5%