Customs (Prohibited Imports) (Importation of Hemp Seeds and Hemp Derived Products) Approval 2018

The Customs (Prohibited Imports) (Importation of Hemp Seeds and Hemp Derived Products) Approval 2018 (Instrument of Approval) is made under the authority of subregulation 5(3) of the PI Regulations and approves the importation into Australia of drugs that are hemp seed and hemp plant derived products (fibre and food products) that contain very low concentrations of tetrahydrocannabinol (the psychoactive substance found in cannabis plants). Section 5 of the Instrument of Approval lists specified hemp seeds and products derived from hemp plants (including hemp seeds) that are approved for importation into Australia. These products are included in the Instrument of Approval on the recommendation of the Secretary in accordance with subregulation 5(3) of the PI Regulations. The primary purpose of the Approval is to support the amendments made by the new Food Standard (Proposal P1042 – Low THC Hemp Seeds as Food) Variation (the P1042 Variation). The changes to the Food Standards Code came into effect on 12 November 2017 and permit the sale in Australia of hemp seeds and hemp seed products from low tetrahydrocannabinol varieties of Cannabis for human consumption.