The cultivation of hemp, for industrial purposes, including food, will be controlled by the Agriculture and Fisheries Financing Institute, Judicial Police, Republican National Guard and Public Security Police.
According to a draft regulatory decree to which Lusa, the Portuguese news agency, had access, “in the case of growing hemp for industrial purposes, including for food or animal feed or the manufacture of compound feed or food, from the varieties of cannabis sativa to production of fibers and seeds not intended for sowing, the control functions are carried out by the Agriculture and Fisheries Financing Institute [IFAP], together with the Judiciary Police [PJ], the Republican National Guard [GNR] and the Public Security Police [PSP] ”.
The rule will be the fifth amendment to regulatory decree No. 61/94 of 12 October, which establishes rules regarding the control of the lawful market for narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and other chemicals that may be used in the manufacture of drugs.
In turn, authorization to grow industrial hemp will have to be requested from the Directorate-General for Food and Veterinary (DGAV).
The fees for authorization requests are set at three thousand euros for the cultivation, production or wholesale trade of plant species for medical or research purposes, 1,200 euros for import or export, and for transit one thousand euros.
The changes and maintenance of these authorizations imply the payment of one thousand euros, while the fees for the cultivation of industrial hemp are fixed at 50 euros, plus value, when applicable, “of the cost of laboratory control analyzes”.
The application of fines and sanctions for the use of authorization for a purpose other than that established is the responsibility of Infarmed - National Authority for Medicines and Health Products, excluding those resulting from competences attributed to DGAV.
Source: lusa.pt
