European Parliament votes for 0.3% THC limit in hemp

The European Parliament voted in favor of raising the level of THC authorized for industrial hemp ranging from 0.2% to 0.3%. The proposal was, in particular, defended by the European Industrial Hemp Association (EIHA) and was included in the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) adopted by Parliament on Friday, October 23.

The news was announced by Lorenza Romanese, Executive Director of the EIHA, on her LinkedIn profile.

«This is a historic moment for our industry, for our farmers, for a green future, and for all Europeans,» said declared EIHA President Daniel Kruse. «Finally, the EU once again has a level playing field with the global industrial hemp sector.»

The proposal, adopted by the Parliament, will then be discussed with the European Council and the European Commission during trilateral negotiations, which are part of the process for adopting legislation in the European Union.

Parliament also voted to include hemp on the list of agricultural products that can be regulated through marketing standards. These rules are intended to ensuring quality products and to improve the economic conditions for the production and marketing of agricultural products. They cover aspects such as technical definitions, labeling, packaging, substances and methods used in production, and the type and location of cultivation.

What are the differences between 0.2% and 0.3%?

Since 1999, the legal THC limit in hemp—which legally distinguishes «hemp» from «cannabis»—has been set at 0.2%. It was previously 0.3% and had been lowered to officially limit the possibility of growing cannabis in hemp fields.

Today, Europe’s main competitors in the hemp sector—China and the United States—both have a tolerance level of 0.3%, a threshold that allows for a wider variety of hemp species and provides a competitive advantage in the production of seeds, fibers, and CBD.

The 0.2% THC threshold has indeed proven to be an obstacle for European CBD producers, as CBD levels increase in proportion to THC levels. This limit also prevents the use of certain high-yielding hemp varieties, which exceed the 0.2% THC threshold.