Hemp
Hemp seed legalised as food
Hemp seeds as food - Find out about pending law changes to allow hemp seed to be sold as food, who is managing these changes, and how you can have your say.
On 28 April 2017, trans-Tasman ministers approved a change to the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code. The change will allow the use of hemp seed as a food for human consumption. However, the Government has to change some laws before that can happen. Changes will be needed to regulations under the following legislation:
- Food Act 2014
- Misuse of Drugs Act 1975
- Medicines Act 1981.
This is because of hemp's connection with drug and medicines legislation. The process of changing New Zealand's regulations to allow the manufacture, sale and purchase of hemp seeds (and food made from hemp seeds) won't be completed until late 2018.
As part of the law changes, decisions will need to be made on:
- licensing
- testing
- enforcement regimes.
Note, the permission to sell hemp seed oil (with zero tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and zero cannabidiol (CBD)) remains in place during the implementation period.
