Canada launches consultation on easing industrial hemp regulations

Health Canada has launched a 45-day public consultation on proposed amendments to the Industrial Hemp Regulations (IHR), aiming to reduce compliance burdens for producers and processors. The consultation, announced in a Notice of Intent on May 22, is open until June 30, 2026.

This review is part of broader government efforts to streamline regulations and reduce red tape. Health Canada is considering changes to eliminate or reduce regulatory requirements and ease administrative obligations for license holders, including documentation and reporting. The agency is seeking input on cultivation requirements, import and export procedures, THC testing, and rules for selling hemp flowering heads, leaves, and branches.

Industry groups in Canada have long argued that industrial hemp should be regulated as an agricultural commodity rather than under cannabis-related controls, stating that current requirements are disproportionate to public health and safety risks. The consultation also asks stakeholders whether the definition of industrial hemp should be revised and what safeguards are needed to distinguish it from cannabis and prevent illegal diversion. Responses are accepted by email until June 30.

Source: USDA Foreign Agricultural Service