Dear Members,
The Treasurer of the NZHIA, Richard Barge represented the NZHIA at the 13th Canadian Hemp Trade Alliance Conference in Alberta Canada 16-19 November 2015.
NZHIA members were interested in the regulatory framework in Canada. A summary of the presentation at the CHTA convention will be sent later this month,
Please find attached the following PDF files, the parts in italics are extracted direct from the PDF.
A Consultation Document 2013 – “Consultation Document on the Review of the Industrial Hemp Framework”
21 pages, issued by Health Canada. Seeking input on some of the key issues raised by CHTA and others with regard to the industrial hemp framework. This consultation has been ongoing and with the change in Government, the work and the solutions identified will be useful for the incoming Trudeau government who are supportive of the iHemp industry and legalisation of cannabis.
The NZHIA have promoted a review of the legislation in New Zealand and have supplied Medicines Control with detailed information on the improvements that could be made on our 2006 hemp regulations. This review and a request for a meeting with the Associate Minister have been declined at this time.
Canada – “The Industrial Hemp Regulations (IHR), which allow for the commercial production of industrial hemp came into force on March 12, 1998. The regulations, which ended a nearly 60 year ban on industrial hemp, create a framework for industrial hemp cultivation and production and the development of hemp products. This has resulted in the development of a thriving hemp industry in Canada.
Since the regulations were developed and implemented before the hemp industry was established, some sections of the regulations are no longer meeting the needs of the hemp industry or of the government. Thus, a number of stakeholders including the hemp industry, federal and provincial partners, and relevant agricultural associations have raised concerns regarding various aspects of the industrial hemp framework”
“In response, Health Canada is conducting a comprehensive review of the IHR with the key objective of modernizing the regulations and related Health Canada policies and manuals to create a more efficient framework that will benefit the hemp industry, while continuing to protect the health and safety of Canadians”
Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.
An Act respecting the control of certain drugs, their precursors and other substances and to amend certain other Acts and repeal the Narcotic Control Act in consequence thereof
87 pages
SCHEDULE I, 1. Opium Poppy (Papaver somniferum), its preparations, derivatives, alkaloids and salts, including
SCHEDULE II 1. Cannabis, its preparations and derivatives, including
(1) Cannabis resin
(2) Cannabis (marihuana)
(3) Cannabidiol (2–[3–methyl–6–(1–methylethenyl)–2–cyclohexen–1–yl]–5–pentyl–1,3–benzenediol)
(4) Cannabinol (3–n–amyl–6,6,9–trimethyl–6–dibenzopyran–1–ol)
(5) and (6) [Repealed, SOR/2015-192, s. 1]
(7) Tetrahydrocannabinol (tetrahydro–6,6,9–trimethyl–3–pentyl–6H–dibenzo[b,d]pyran–1–ol)
(7.1) [Repealed, SOR/2015-192, s. 1]
but not including
(8) Non–viable Cannabis seed, with the exception of its derivatives
(9) Mature Cannabis stalks that do not include leaves, flowers, seeds or branches; and fiber derived from such stalks
Industrial Hemp Regulations – March 12, 1998
INTERPRETATION DÉFINITIONS
1. The definitions in this section apply in these Regulations.
“Act” means the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act
“industrial hemp” means the plants and plant parts of the genera Cannabis, the leaves and flowering heads of which do not contain more than 0.3% THC w/w, and includes the derivatives of such plants and plant parts. It also includes the derivatives of non-viable cannabis seed. It does not include plant parts of the genera Cannabis that consist of non-viable cannabis seed, other than its derivatives, or of mature cannabis stalks that do not include leaves, flowers, seeds or branches, or of fibre derived from those stalks. (chanvre industriel)
“process”, in respect of seed, viable grain or non-viable cannabis seed, includes conditioning it, pressing it or, in the case of seed or viable grain, rendering it non-viable. (transformer)
“seed” means any part of an industrial hemp plant that is represented, sold or used to grow a plant. (semence)
“THC” means Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol ((6aR, 10aR)-6a, 7,8,10a-tetrahydro-6,6,9-trimethyl-3-pentyl-6H-dibenzo [b,d] pyran-1-ol). (THC)
APPLICATION
2. (1) These Regulations apply to
(a) the importation, exportation and possession of industrial hemp;
(b) the production, sale, provision, transport, sending or delivering of industrial hemp; and
(c) an offer to do anything mentioned in paragraph (b).
(2) These Regulations do not apply to
(a) the importation, exportation, sale or provision of whole industrial hemp plants, including sprouts, or the leaves, flowers or bracts of those plants;
(b) the importation, exportation, sale, provision or production of any derivative or product made from whole industrial hemp plants, including sprouts, or the leaves, flowers or bracts of those plants; or
(c) the importation, exportation, sale or provision of any derivative of seed, viable grain or non-viable cannabis seed, or product made from that derivative, if the derivative or product contains more than 10 μg/g THC.
Industrial Hemp Technical manual Sept 2000
30 pages, detailing the standard operating procedures for THC sampling, testing and the processing methodology
Marihuana for Medical Purposes Regulations June 7, 2013
136 pages, builds on the former regulations , June 14, 2001. For the cannabis – marijuana – medical industry
For a list of Approved Producers see http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/dhp-mps/marihuana/info/index-eng.php
Narcotic Control Regulations
92 pages, additional regulations to control narcotics
Richard Barge
richard@beok.co.nz