The European hemp sector may soon see long-awaited regulatory clarity, as Brussels takes steps toward harmonizing rules across member states. On July 7, the Agriculture Committee of the European Parliament approved, with broad consensus, a compromise amendment on hemp as part of its initiative report on the future of agriculture and the post-2027 CAP.
The text, backed by liberals, greens and the left, explicitly calls for the legality of cultivating, harvesting, processing and selling all parts of the hemp plant for authorized industrial purposes. It also urges the European Commission to introduce a common THC threshold of 0.5% across the EU. While the report itself has no legislative weight, its political signal is strong: the vote in plenary is scheduled for September.
"The date of the September plenary is not set yet," says Francesco Mirizzi, newly appointed managing director of the European Industrial Hemp Association (EIHA). "However, this is a clear political step towards a more harmonized framework for hemp in Europe. It confirms that Parliament is willing to address the legal uncertainty that growers and processors face."
A revision of CMO for hemp
Meanwhile, the Commission has already moved ahead with a proposal to amend the Common Market Organization (CMO) regulation. This would recognize hemp as a legal crop in all its parts, anticipating Parliament's position, even before plenary approval. A revision of the CMO would carry direct legislative consequences: once in force, member states failing to adapt their national laws would risk infringement procedures.
That could put countries like Italy in a difficult spot. Rome has recently tightened restrictions on hemp flower, in apparent contradiction with Court of Justice rulings, leaving the sector caught between shifting national rules and evolving EU law. "The Italian situation is emblematic," Francesco points out. "National courts are left to interpret, while businesses face uncertainty. A regulatory change at the EU level would give much stronger legal certainty."
For now, the European hemp sector awaits two milestones: the Parliament's plenary vote in September and the outcome of legislative discussions on the CMO revision.
For more information:
European Industrial Hemp Association
[email protected]
eiha.org/
