Australia: campaign challenges hemp restrictions in pet food

The Australian Hemp Council (AHC) has initiated a fundraiser called “Paws for Wellness” to raise at least A$50,000 ($33,930/€30,500) to support the legalization of hemp seed for use in pet food.

This effort comes after the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) classified all products containing cannabinoids or hemp as ‘Veterinary Chemical Products’ in August 2023, requiring mandatory registration for them.

The funds will finance a technical assessment of hemp hulls, meal and ingredient determination for hemp seed oil by the APVMA.

Status of hemp products

An APVMA spokesperson clarified to GlobalPETS that hemp products are not banned but must be listed and authorized before they can be sold.

“To date, no veterinary products containing cannabis have been registered, although one cannabidiol-based product is currently under review,” the spokesperson adds.

Unsuccessful discussions

As per the AHC, the APVMA’s decision led to the complete withdrawal of hemp-based pet supplies from the Australian market due to high registration costs and regulatory barriers, which discouraged existing market players.

The AHC has since engaged in discussions with the APVMA and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) to update hemp’s status as an ingredient.

These efforts included a letter to Australia’s Federal Agricultural Minister requesting that hemp and its derivatives be recognized as animal feed products rather than veterinary medicines.