The Australian Industrial Hemp Alliance (AIHA) has written to the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) calling for clarification and reform concerning nutritional products for animals containing hemp.
The APVMA is the independent statutory authority in Australia responsible for assessing and registering agricultural and veterinary chemicals proposed for local supply. The APVMA’s current official stance on the use of hemp in animal nutrition products (dated 2023) is:
“.. veterinary products containing cannabis (including hemp) or cannabinoids are veterinary chemical products (veterinary medicines).”
At that time, the APVMA had not registered any veterinary chemical products containing cannabis. What this effectively means that all unregistered nutrition products, such as treats, containing hemp are illegal.
But a series of documents gained under the Freedom of Information Act have revealed what the AHIA says are APVMA regulatory practices that may not fully align with its legal obligations; adversely affecting the Australian hemp industry.
The AHIA says the APVMA’s current regulatory stance has had negative consequences for the industry; including stifled growth, inhibited innovation and lost opportunities.
“Hemp farming offers significant export potential, yet regulatory challenges have constrained farmers, leading to economic stagnation in rural areas.”
AHIA noted one document indicates the APVMA suspended enforcement actions pending a “final determination” on November 28, 2024. But this suspension, the AHIA says, was never communicated. In other documents, there are also claimed discrepancies in how hemp-based animal nutrition products are classified, which the AHIA says has eroded trust in the APVMA’s decision-making.
“The FOI documents highlight significant concerns about the APVMA’s regulatory approach to hemp-based products,” says the Alliance. ” We believe that collaboration can lead to a clear, evidence-based framework that supports the hemp industry’s growth while ensuring compliance with legal obligations.”
According to the Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals Code Act 1994 (Cth): Section 5, an exemption can be provided for nutritional products under the Excluded Nutritional or Digestive (E.N.D.) criteria.
” We believe hemp-based products meeting these standards should be exempt from registration, yet the APVMA’s classifications appear inconsistent with this provision,” states AHIA.
The AHIA letter, dated 9 April, requests a formal response within 30 days detailing the APVMA’s plans for revising the website statement and steps to clarify enforcement; including a timeline for the “final determination” on hemp classification.
The AIHA has written to the APVMA calling for clarification and reform concerning nutritional products for animals containing hemp. Read More
