The European Commission (EC) is considering a major overhaul of regulations surrounding hemp across the Union, potentially marking a step change in how hemp is recognised, traded, and funded.
Should the proposals be brought into law, from 2027, the entire hemp plant, including flowers, would be recognised as an agricultural product, not just the seeds and stems, and THC limits could rise to 0.5%.
In a nutshell, this would not only provide much-needed legal clarity for hemp farmers and traders, but by recognising hemp flower, leaves and extracts as agricultural products, grant farmers far greater access to the €55bn a year ‘Common Agricultural Practice’ (CAP) subsidies pot, which represents over a third of the entire EU budget.
While these proposals are promising for hemp-focused businesses throughout the economic bloc, this legislation must now navigate the complex and highly bureaucratic maze of the European Parliament.