The Rockliff Liberal Government is committed to improving the regulatory environment of the state's nation-leading industrial hemp industry.
Minister for Primary Industries and Water, Jo Palmer, said the Industrial Hemp Amendment Bill 2023, tabled in Parliament today will deliver on the Government's commitment to work with the hemp industry to support future growth and streamline regulation.
The Bill will support future industry growth by including horticultural use as an explicit licence purpose. This means that industrial hemp straw could be used as a mulch, giving growers an additional income stream.
"Proposed amendments will improve clarity, efficiency, and transparency for licensees. It will also provide consistency with existing legislation in relation to police powers, the assessment of suitability of applicants, and definitions for fit and proper persons and responsible officers," Minister Palmer said.
"Proposed amendments to the Industrial Hemp Regulations 2016 will also clarify the assessment process for special research licences to ensure beneficial research is delivered to support growth of the industrial hemp industry.
"A comprehensive review of the Industrial Hemp Act 2015 found that most issues raised by stakeholders can be addressed by updating policy and licence conditions to better inform licensees of their obligations and ensure they can maximise the use of their crop.
"This work has commenced."
The Rockliff Liberal Government is doing what matters to Tasmanians by making immediate complementary improvements to industrial hemp licensing and policy frameworks to enable growers to use more of the hemp plant, while still maintaining efficient enforcement of illicit cannabis activities.
"Our government has also committed to support industry to advocate nationally for complementary pathways, compliant with the Commonwealth Drug Regulatory Scheme, to potentially allow for greater use of non-medicinal products from industrial hemp such as extracts and resins," Minister Palmer said.
"Industrial hemp is making an important contribution to the sustainable growth of the farm gate value of Tasmanian agriculture to $10 billion by 2050."
