Industrial hemp is cannabis where the leaves and flowering heads do not contain more than 1 per cent delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
NRE Tas is responsible for issuing licences to authorise the possession, cultivation, supply and manufacture of industrial hemp for non-therapeutic (non-medicinal) purposes in Tasmania.
Non-therapeutic uses of industrial hemp include fibre and seed production. Industrial hemp fibre and pulp can be used in textiles, paper and building materials and industrial hemp seed and hemp seed oil can be used in industrial products, cosmetics and food.
The industrial hemp industry in Tasmania is regulated under the Industrial Hemp Act 2015.
Answers to frequently asked questions are on the Industrial Hemp FAQ page.
Licence applications
To cultivate industrial hemp in Tasmania you must hold a licence from NRE Tas.
An indsutrial hemp licence may authorise a person to possess, cultivate, or supply industrial hemp for one or more of the following purposes:
commercial production (eg cultivating seed and/or fibre for commercial sale);
use in any manufacturing process (eg processing fibre into building materials, or seeds into oil for cosmetic use);
food production (eg hulled hemp seed, hemp flour, hemp oil);
scientific research, instruction, analysis or study (eg research into new seed varieties or new fibre products for building and manufacturing);
any other purpose approved by the Secretary (eg untreated hemp bales for horticultural mulch or bulk composting material).
Information regarding the activities authorised under licence can be found on the FAQ page.
Licence applicants are required to provide national police history checks and information about the site(s) where activities will be undertaken as part of the application process. Site inspections are generally required.
Licences can be issued for up to 5 years. There are no licence fees but annual laboratory analysis charges apply to test crop compliance with THC threshold for industrial hemp.
Licence application forms and guidelines