Three years after the start of its fight for Cannabis leaves to be considered a traditional food, the European Industrial Hemp Association (EIHA) has just won a great victory.
The European Commission has confirmed that it no longer considers the leaves of the Cannabis plant to be a Novel Food, a European food classification aimed at distinguishing novel foods whose consumption does not date back to before 1997.
The Novel Foods Catalog entry for Cannabis Sativa L. has therefore been updated to include the following: “A history of consumption in the EU has also been demonstrated for hemp leaf infusion (when they are not accompanied by flowering and fruiting tops) consumed as such or as part of infusions. This (these) use(s) is (are) therefore not new. »
It’s a welcome U-turn that could boost the European hemp food market and comes more than four years after the controversial classification by the EC, which decided to categorize all parts of the plant as ” novelty”.
The EIHA has also requested that natural products made from hemp extracts be classified as traditional foods under Article 4 of the EC Novel Food Regulations.
Companies wishing to file applications for synthetic CBD products and isolates, as well as broad or full-spectrum extracts, must for now go through the Novel Foods procedure, flowers and fortified or isolated cannabinoids are still considered novel foods.
Hemp infused tea
The primary impact of the Cannabis leaf ruling will be on those involved in hemp-infused tea and related products.
EIHA President Daniel Kruse said: “This is a major step forward for our sector, which clearly demonstrates that a collective industry effort is key to standardizing the hemp plant. and its products. »
“For many years, the EIHA has been in talks with the European institutions and Member States about novel food legislation. We are happy that science and historical facts have prevailed over prejudice.”
In a press release, the EIHA continues: “Hemp leaves were traditionally consumed as food, and in particular in the form of aqueous infusions before 1997.
She goes on to say that the change in status is also in line with the 1961 Single Convention, where hemp leaves are explicitly exempted.
And she adds: “In addition to this important regulatory development, a number of other seed-derived products will also be explicitly excluded from the application of the Novel Foods Regulation, which will clarify and strengthen their legal status on the EU. »
THC content of seeds
Although the EIHA is naturally delighted with the progress made so far, it is still awaiting feedback from the EC on the position of the THC content in hemp seeds.
Ms. Romanese added, “We sincerely hope that this spirit of positive and constructive engagement translates into the urgent need for written clarification on the uncertainty of the THC measurements in seed products. »
“Currently, operators in many EU countries suffer from misleading interpretations, seizures and unnecessary administrative requirements”, for example in Belgium.
“These new changes will remove all remaining doubts about the legality of seed-derived products and open up the market for infusions and tea made from hemp leaves, thereby ensuring additional economic income for farmers and commercial operators. »
