Misuse of Drugs Amendment Regulations 2006

New Zealand Hemp Industries Association Inc

PRESS RELEASE 31 July 2007

Re: Misuse of Drugs Amendment Regulations 2006

START

The Executive of the New Zealand Hemp Industries Association congratulate the Ministry of Health for issuing the Misuse of Drugs (Industrial Hemp) Regulations 2006.

Since incorporation in 1997 the NZHIA has been lobbying the Government to allow a local hemp industry to develop.

From the 1st of August this year New Zealand farmers and hemp businesses have an opportunity to create a new primary industry for New Zealand.

NZHIA Chairman, Mack McIntosh congratulates the Government for providing “a secure platform to develop a local hemp industry. At last we have legislation that provides security and confidence for investors, developers, industrial hemp farmers and seed breeders.”

The bright star is hemp seed as a food, high in nutritional benefits, gluten free and containing Omega 3-6-9 for improved heart brain & cell health. Hemp seed has been used for thousands of years as a traditional food through out Europe and Asia.

It is therefore surprising and a huge problem that the New Zealand and Australia Food Safety Authority have outlawed hemp seed as a human food.

NZHIA Treasurer Richard Barge adds “fortunately Hon Annette King has been able to allow access to hemp seed oil, which is prohibited in Australia“

Meanwhile the fibre industry needs to keep the momentum going toward developing exports in the construction and textile markets.

Plant and machinery is needed to separate the hemp stems into fibre and hurd. Which can then be used to build houses, create textiles, as composites, paper and packaging and for use as a geo textile, these are amongst a huge number of other potential applications.

The high quality of hemp fibre and seed naturally tend toward the premium end of the market.

Producing quality finished product for export will provide the best returns and maximize the employment opportunities for New Zealand.

The hemp industry can be sustainably managed and will have a positive effect on the balance of greenhouse gas emissions.

Farmers and land owners need to see the economics of growing hemp not only in $$ terms, but also it’s bio remediation benefits. Cleansing soils and soaking up nitrates and other organic nasties before they reach our lakes and rivers.

We have come a long way since the Government established a working party in 1998.

And there is still a long way to go before the hemp industry with it’s diverse range of end uses is allowed to play a significant role in the national economy.

The NZHIA would like to thank all those people involved with the process of bringing these Industrial hemp regulations in to being.

There will be issues to resolve and the NZHIA looks forward to working
with the industry and the government on them.

ENDS

Ministry of Health – Hot topics – Media Release
http://www.medsafe.govt.nz/hot.htm

Ministry of New Zealand Food Safety – Sale of hemp seed oil as a food
http://www.nzfsa.govt.nz/consumers/food-safety-topics/
chemicals-in-food/hemp/index.htm

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