In the Seimas – amendments easing the conditions for the export and trade of fibrous hemp

In order to create more favorable conditions for the import of fiber hemp products and their products from other European Union (EU) countries into Lithuania, it is proposed to simplify the requirements for suppliers of such production from July.

In the Seimas, a group of managers registered amendments aimed at abolishing the requirement for companies supplying fiber hemp products to the Lithuanian market to have a certificate confirming that fiber hemp products and their products produced in other EU countries are obtained or made from fiber hemp, in which the psychoactive tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content does not exceed the permitted 0.3 percent. limits.

The authors of the amendment say that it is important to ensure the safety of consumers how much THC is in the final product intended for consumption, and not the raw material from which it is made, because the amount of THC in the final product depends not only on the raw material, but also on the production technology of the final product.

According to the initiators of the amendment, these changes are especially necessary for research companies that mainly produce health care products and cosmetic components.

The amendments create the possibility for scientific and study institutions from third countries to import a limited amount – no more than 6 kilograms – of seeds of non-legalized EU fibrous hemp varieties without an import license for scientific experimental or selection purposes, for economic value studies, with the aim of entering the fibrous hemp variety in the National List of Plant Varieties , thereby expanding the selection of fiber hemp varieties allowed to be grown in Lithuania.

The changes would allow the cultivation of fibrous hemp varieties bred in Ukraine in Lithuania.

In this way, it would be allowed to grow more fibrous hemp varieties in Lithuania, and the possibilities of using fibrous hemp would be developed.

Cannabis growers and raw material suppliers in Lithuania must obtain a certificate confirming the THC content from the State Plantation Service. Such certificates are also required for raw materials supplied from third countries.