Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 January 2021
1104. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the role of his Department in prohibiting the marketing of hemp-derived agricultural food products in Ireland in view of the CJEU ruling of 19 November 2020 and statements by the European Commission on 2 and 3 December 2020 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44721/20]
View answerThe growing of hemp by farmers is subject to specific licence granted by the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA), which operates under the auspices of the Department of Health. In addition, the cultivation of hemp (Cannabis genus) is restricted to varieties having less than 0.2% content of the narcotic compound Delta-9 Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Cannabis (which includes hemp) is listed in schedule 1 of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2017, as amended, which means it is subject to the strictest level of control.
The legislative position is primarily, therefore, a matter for the Health Products Regulatory Authority and Department of Health as my Department has no legal role in prohibiting the placing on the market of food product containing hemp.
