If you process and sell hemp seeds or oilseed products, you must also meet the requirements of National Program 1 under the Food Act, 2014 to ensure that the products you place on the market are safe for consumption. “Obviously, hemp fibers have many other applications in textiles, insulation materials, and carpets to deal with soil erosion,” says Kite. “There is a huge opportunity. In fact, it probably has more potential than the food side. It is illegal to grow “forbidden plants” in New Zealand. If the perpetrator is arrested, he could be sentenced to up to seven years in prison. • Hemp production has been an important industry for centuries, from Asia to America. • But eight decades followed, during which he was put in the same bag as his leisure cousin. • Today, the main hemp-producing countries are China, Canada, the United States, France, Chile and North Korea.
You do not need a license from Medicines Control to transport hemp seeds (whole and peeled) or hemp seed food products, but you must be registered under the Food Act. Special equipment developed or modified for hemp is used in the harvest. Most producers use local entrepreneurs. Check that your area has access to processing facilities as well as contractors with hemp-specific equipment. On April 28, 2017, Ministers Transtasman approved an amendment to the Australia-New Zealand Food Standards Code to allow the sale of hemp seeds as food for human consumption. Before this happened, some changes had to be made to the Drug Abuse (Industrial Hemp) Regulations, 2006 and the Food Regulations, 2015. The changes require the following: In 2019, hemp seeds were sold for about $5,000 per tonne. An average crop will produce about 900 kg/ha, although the yield varies from 0 to 2,000 kg/ha.
Low yields usually occur due to bird damage, crop problems, or weather events, especially flooding. “This is great news for the local hemp industry, which has maintained for decades that the production of hemp seed foods will boost the regional economy, create jobs and generate $10-20 million in export revenue over the next 3-5 years,” said Food Security Minister Damien O`Connor. Medsafe, the medicines agency of the Ministry of Health, has reviewed the regulatory framework for hemp licensing studies. On 1 August 2006, a new regulatory system for the cultivation, processing and distribution of industrial hemp as an agricultural crop was introduced. Recent Legislative Changes Regarding the Consumption of Hemp Seeds as Food for Humans (2018)As described above, the Ministry of Primary Industry (MPI) announced on November 12, 2018 that it would be allowed to sell hemp seeds as food for human consumption. This means that the cultivation, production and sale of low-THC seeds for food is now allowed. The industrial hemp variety of Cannabis Sativa must have a THC content of less than 0.5%. Here in New Zealand, it does not exceed 0.35%. What happens at the border when hemp seed foods are imported into New Zealand or exported from New Zealand? For more information, please visit:www.beehive.govt.nz/release/hemp-seed-can-now-be-sold-foodwww.mpi.govt.nz/growing-and-harvesting/plant-products/hemp-seeds-as-food/www.health.govt.nz/our-work/regulation-health-and-disability-system/medicines-control/industrial-hemp-0/hemp-seed-food The cost of growing a hemp plant varies by region, depending on the cost of the contractor and the availability of equipment.
The cultivation of industrial hemp is becoming more and more popular in the country. The first took place in 2018. If you`re processing whole hemp seeds (e.g., washing and peeling) or making food products made from whole hemp seeds, you must: A small but significant victory occurred on Tuesday when the government announced formal regulatory changes, meaning hemp seed products will begin in the 12th century. November 2018 will be legal for sale and consumption. NZHIA has more information and potential hemp growers should seriously consider joining. Importers of whole hemp seeds (whether viable or not) must obtain an import permit from the Ministry of Health for each shipment. Note that these changes apply to Cannabis sativa seeds (pure) and do not apply to Cannabis Indica or Cannabis Ruderalis seeds or hybrid seeds – they remain prohibited imports. The second can be used for double cutting. These plants are larger and less sensitive to branching than seed-specific varieties. The seeds are harvested, then the stems are cut and rested in the field before being pressed and transported for fiber processing.
Dual-crop varieties produce a smaller seed and less fiber than fiber-specific varieties. The fiber is also of inferior quality. The process involves the production of “Hurd” hemp – the wood waste that remains after the fibers are extracted. In turn, these obstacles are used to make hempcrete, a substitute for concrete. Food can be made from the seeds, but should not be made from any other part of the plant, including flowers, buds or leaves. Seeds must be peeled, crushed or crushed so that they cannot grow. Whole seed that can be grown must not appear in products intended for retail sale. New Zealand has allowed itself an exemption for hemp seed oil and food products containing hemp seed oil, while the seeds can still be used or exported for animal feed or other purposes. Harvesting industrial hemp requires special equipment and is usually carried out by contractors.
Your contractor will need equipment designed or customized specifically for hemp, as resistant fibers often bind and damage machines. Is there a link between hemp seeds as a food and medical cannabis? If possible, seek advice from people who grow hemp in your area, as well as from competent suppliers. Hemp or industrial hemp is a variety of the plant species Cannabis sativa, which is grown specifically for the industrial use of its derived products. It is one of the fastest growing plants and one of the first plants spun into usable fiber. Unfortunately, Ryan is right, cannabis is still very illegal in New Zealand and will remain so thanks to the current government`s strong anti-drug stance.