The new Common Agricultural Policy has been adopted and the
maximum THC level on the field has been restored to 0,3%. In October 2020, the European Industrial Hemp Association (EIHA) announced that the European Parliament had voted in favor of restoring the authorized THC level on the field from 0,2% to 0,3%. One year later, and after long discussions aiming at working out
compromises between the three EU institutions, the final proposal of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) was adopted by the Council, following the final vote at the European Parliament on November 24.
The new CAP, which will enter into force on January 1st, 2023, recognizes the possibility for farmers to receive Direct Payments for hemp varieties registered in the EU Catalogue that have a maximum level of THC of 0,3%. This change entails a potential enlargement of the number of hemp varieties accepted under the EU Catalogue. As a reminder, this level only applies if farmers want to receive direct payments, meaning that in Europe it is possible to plant hemp with THC level on the field over 0,3%, provided it is authorized by national
regulations (e.g., 0,6% in Italy; 1% in the Czech Republic).
Daniel Kruse, President of the European Industrial Hemp Association (EIHA): “This is a great day for the hemp sector and another step towards a greener future for Europe. However, if compared to other
countries worldwide, 0,3% is still a low limit; for instance, Switzerland, in the heart of Europe, has a higher number, 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 safety risk for consumers. The EU lays the foundation for a growing, green, and sustainable industrial hemp sector across our Union and it has the chance to achieve a level playing field again in global competition when it comes to the industrial hemp sector.”
"We worked hard to ensure that hemp had the recognition it deserves in the Common Agricultural Policy. I would say that this small step reflects that EU legislators are closer to fully acknowledging and recognizing the existence of a legitimate European hemp sector,” says Lorenza Romanese, EIHA Managing Director. “However, as I have said other times, this is not it. We need to keep working together, as there are still other areas where hemp deserves to be better regulated, but we are on the right track.”
For more information:
European Industrial Hemp Association
www.eiha.org