South Africa officially sets a 2% THC limit for industrial hemp.

South Africa announced the entry into force of the new Plant Improvement Act. The new law, which updates and replaces the previous law relating to agricultural production, includes a significant change. Among the most relevant changes is the legal redefinition of 'hemp', which is now classified as "plants or parts of Cannabis sativa L. intended for industrial or agricultural purposes, provided they have a maximum THC content of 2% in the leaves and flowers", Newsweed announced.

This new limit represents a substantial change from the previous limit of 0,2%, which was considered too restrictive for the climate and cultivated varieties in the country. By raising it to 2%, the South African government aims to align regulations with local agronomic specificities and make the sector more attractive and competitive.

This measure paves the way for the growth of the industrial hemp market in South Africa, including areas such as textiles, bioconstruction, composite materials, bioplastics, and other derived products. South African producers believe that this change will allow for greater stability in cultivation, avoiding crop losses due to small natural variations in THC content, which could attract new investments to the industrial hemp sector.

With this measure, South Africa is currently the only country in the world to allow more than 1% total THC in an industrial hemp plant, which could represent significant global opportunities for this industry.

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Laura Ramos

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With a degree in Journalism from the University of Coimbra, Laura Ramos has a postgraduate degree in Photography and has been a Journalist since 1998. Winner of the Business of Cannabis Awards in the category "Journalist of the Year 2024", Laura was a correspondent for Jornal de Notícias in Rome, Italy, and Press Officer in the Office of the Minister of Education of the 21st Portuguese Government. She has an international certification in Permaculture (PDC) and created the street-art photography archive “Say What? Lisbon” @saywhatlisbon. Co-founder and Editor of CannaReporter® and coordinator of PTMC - Portugal Medical Cannabis, Laura directed the documentary “Pacientes” and was part of the steering group of the first Postgraduate Course in GxP's for Medicinal Cannabis in Portugal, in partnership with the Military Laboratory and the Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Lisbon.

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