By Council Approves Position On Hemp Framework
The Council of the European Union last week approved creating a universal hemp framework. The move is intended to harmonize hemp industry regulations and address discrepancies across EU member states.
The Council announced the new position as part of its latest negotiations for updating the Common Organisation of the Markets (CMO). The CMO organizes and supports the bloc’s agricultural policy.
The framework would cover all parts of the hemp plant, including the flower. Under the proposal, hemp grown in the EU would need to come from a variety registered with the Common Catalogue of Varieties of Agricultural Plant Species.
The Council’s position now forms part of the ongoing CMO negotiation process. The framework would replace the current patchwork of member state rules with aligned regulations EU-wide.
What The Proposal Says
The law states that covering the flower “provides farmers with additional opportunities to valorise the plant beyond fibre production, making hemp a more attractive and competitive crop,” according to an excerpt from a press release.
The same press release excerpt says the harmonisation “would promote the alignment of rules EU-wide, guaranteeing a level playing field.”
The provisions would uphold public health protection by keeping strict seed certification. The framework would also maintain a 0.3% Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) threshold.
These requirements are presented as safeguards accompanying the expanded scope of the crop. The Council framed the package as both an economic and public health measure.
Why It Matters And What Comes Next
Currently, hemp regulations vary from one member state to another, creating discrepancies for operators across the bloc. A unified framework would apply consistent rules throughout the EU market.
For farmers, the inclusion of the flower opens opportunities beyond fibre production. The Council says this makes hemp a more attractive and competitive crop.
The 0.3% THC threshold and seed certification requirements would remain in place under the new framework. These provisions are designed to keep public health protections intact while harmonizing rules.
The Council’s approval represents its negotiating position in the CMO update talks. The proposal will move forward through the EU legislative process as negotiations continue.
