DISAPPOINTING DECISION ON HEMP

FEDERAL Lyons MHR Eric Hutchinson is surprised and disappointed that a government regulatory body has again refused to allow hemp to be grown for food.

“I’m extremely disappointed by this bureaucratic mess,’’ Mr Hutchinson said today.

“We’ve been working on this for such a long time now and it makes sense, particularly for Tasmanian farmers to say yes to hemp for human consumption.’’

Mr Hutchinson said that Tasmanian farmers in his electorate of Lyons had been campaigning for a positive decision to allow the development of the hemp industry for more than a decade.

The removal of prohibitions on the production of hemp seed and oil products would provide farmers with a greater range of viable markets for a crop that has been proved grows particularly well in the southern regions of Australia and New Zealand.

But the Australia and New Zealand Ministerial Forum on Food Regulation resolved today to reject a variation to regulations that would allow hemp to be grown for human consumption.

Concerns were raised by several forum members including law enforcement issues particularly from a policing perspective in relation to roadside testing.

There was also concern that marketing of hemp as food might send a confused message to consumers about the acceptability and safety of cannabis.

But Mr Hutchinson said that the forum has received huge amounts of information over many years on the subject.

‘’We’ve answered all the questions – many countries around the world have been growing hemp as food for many years and have had no problems,” he said.

“And the tragic irony is that you can buy those imported food products here in Australia.

“In the past six months, I’ve written to the Prime Minister Tony Abbott and all the state health ministers seeking their support. That’s why it is so disappointing.

“This decision in New Zealand today is bureaucratic bungling at its worst.’’

Mr Hutchinson said that he would continue to lobby for approval of hemp for food.

“For a start I will be writing to Federal Justice Minister Michael Keenan and all state and territory police ministers this week,’’ he said.
Federal Lyons MHR Eric Hutchinson