Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 27 April 2022

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Hemp Industry: Discussion

Mr. Barry Caslin:

I will clarify that there is a distinction with regard to the 0.2%. We can take in seed with a THC content of 0.2% that farmers can buy and sow. However, if we grow that seed and produce hemp-derived products, such as hemp oil or a CBD product, that contain any trace of THC, they will be illegal. The move at EU level will increase this allowed level from 0.2% to 0.3%. The exciting thing is that more varieties will be available to us to research and to grow. These may be high in CBD and low in THC. That is an exciting opportunity which we will have fairly soon, under the next CAP.