European trade in Turkish salep with special reference to Germany

The use of salep (ground orchid bulbs) has a long history in Turkey. The an alysis of its trade, revealed that it is still used there as medicine, drin k and as binder in so-called Maras Ice cream. Substitutes, however; increas ingly enter, the market. Export figures unfortunately do not distinguish be tween tore salep and substitutes. The officially recorded Turkish export of 75 100 kg salep in 1993 almost certainly refers more to substitutes than t o true salep. Major countries of destination are Germany the Netherlands, a nd northern Cyprus. Drug importers in Germany have imported tote salep for medicinal purposes for years, CITES documents were not applied for and not issued. Five medicines containing true salep could be identified on the Ger man market for medicinal products. It is estimated that about 10-20 million orchid bulbs are collected annually in Turkey. Information to the impact o f such a harvest on the population status on the species concerned are some how contradictory. Recommendations are made for a better control of salep t rade, for reducing the use of genuine salep and for better protection of or chid populations in Turkey.