Last Minute: Europe reinstates 0,3% THC limit for industrial hemp

The new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), adopted today in the European Parliament, raised the maximum THC level of industrial hemp to 0,3%. The news was broken this morning by the EIHA – European Industrial Hemp Association and Daniel Kruse, President of EIHA, welcomed another small step in the hemp sector at European level, but warned that “0% is still a low threshold”.

Cannareporter is contacting Cannacasa, the Portuguese Industrial Hemp Association, the ACCIP – Industrial Hemp Traders Association of Portugal and DGAV – General Directorate of Food and Veterinary Medicine, to understand what this change represents for the national hemp sector.

EIHA had already announced in October 2020 that the European Parliament had voted in favor of restoring the authorized THC level from 0,2% to 0,3%. A year later, and after lengthy discussions aimed at reaching compromises between the three EU institutions, the final proposal for the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) was adopted today by the Council, after the final vote in the European Parliament on 24 November.

This change implies a potential increase in the number of hemp varieties accepted in the EU Catalogue, but this level only applies if farmers want to receive direct payments, which means that in Europe it is possible to plant hemp with a THC level above 0,3, 0%, provided it is authorized by national regulations, as is already the case, for example, in Italy (6%) and the Czech Republic (1%).

The new CAP, which will enter into force on 1 January 2023, recognizes the possibility for farmers to receive direct payments for hemp varieties registered in the EU Catalog that have a maximum THC level of 0,3%.

Daniel Kruse, hemp industry pioneer and president of the EIHA welcomed the news. “This is a great day for the hemp sector and another step towards a greener future for Europe. However, compared to other countries in the world, 0% is still a low threshold; for example Switzerland, in the heart of Europe, has a higher limit and other EU countries already work with higher limits as well. Scientific studies and many years of experience prove that higher limits pose absolutely no risk to consumer safety. The EU lays the foundations for a growing, green and sustainable industrial hemp sector across our Union and has a chance to once again achieve a level playing field in global competition when it comes to the industrial hemp sector.” Kruse added that “I have been fighting for this moment for over a decade. My special thanks go out to our amazing team in Brussels who made this possible.”

Also Lorenza Romanese, Administrative Director of EIHA, said she was “proud” of what was achieved today. “We have worked hard to ensure that hemp gets the recognition it deserves in the Common Agricultural Policy. I would say that this small step reflects that EU legislators are closer to fully recognizing the existence of a legitimate European hemp sector. However, as I have said other times, we need to continue to work together as there are still other areas where hemp deserves better regulation, but we are on the right track,” she concluded.