South Africa’s Government recently quietly ushered in new regulations prohibiting the sale, importation, and manufacture of foodstuffs containing any cannabis whatsoever – including hemp foods.
On March 7, 2025, South Africa’s Minister of Health, Dr. Pakishe Aaron Motsoaledi, issued the new regulations under the country’s Foodstuffs, Cosmetics, and Disinfectants Act (1972). It encompasses all food products containing components derived from Cannabis sativa L., including hemp seeds and hemp seed oil, which contain none of the intoxicating cannabinoid THC.
The new regulation flies in the face of earlier government efforts to promote the commercial production of hemp in South Africa. It appears to be somewhat of a knee-jerk reaction to public safety concerns surrounding unregulated cannabis edible production. South Africa doesn’t have national framework to regulate production, testing, and promotion of cannabis edibles.
The legitimacy of the action has been called into question as some believe it’s an overreach of the Minister.
Previously, Australia was the last country in the world to lift its ban on hemp foods, which it did in 2017. That South Africa has reintroduced one has caused great confusion and many questions from the local nascent industry. It was only in 2023 when President Cyril Ramaphosa said hemp farming had the potential to bring “enormous” economic benefits for rural areas in particular. Just last month, President Ramaphosa reportedly stated he wanted to see South Africa to be a leader in the commercial production of the crop.
While South Africa had a long association with hemp prior to previous prohibition, its cultivation was banned in the 1970’s due to hemp’s association with marijuana. Industrial hemp was legalised again in 2017, but farmers need licences and permits from the government.
At the time of writing, even though nearly a week had passed since the regulations were gazetted, various hemp associations in South Africa were yet to publicly comment on the ban that could inflict major damage on some of their members. The lack of organised and timely advocacy only serves to allow these sorts of questionable decisions to go unchallenged for longer. Affected hemp industry participants should not only express their anger at the government, but perhaps also towards associations that claim to have their backs.
South Africa’s Government has quietly ushered in new regulations prohibiting foodstuffs containing any cannabis whatsoever – including hemp. Read More
