Hon Jo Goodhew
Minister for Food Safety
Hemp seed food sales remain on horizon
The adoption of a hemp seed food standard remains on the horizon, following work requested by the Food Standards
Australia New Zealand Ministerial Forum earlier this year says Food Safety Minister Jo Goodhew.
“New Zealand supports a standard allowing the sale of hemp seed food products, and I am hopeful that the Ministerial
Forum will be able to assess the proposed hemp standard again early next year,” says Mrs Goodhew.
“The best available science shows us that hemp seed is safe to eat and has positive nutritional properties. However, the
Ministerial Forum had some unanswered questions when it met in January.
“That is why Ministers asked the Food Regulation Standing Committee to carry out work into some aspects of hemp seed
food sales where we felt further research is required.”
The Ministry for Primary Industries is leading two of the four areas of work that are currently underway; marketing of
hemp food, and the legislative implications for Australia and New Zealand. The other two areas involve research into the
impact of low-THC food consumption on roadside drug testing, and investigating the levels of cannabidiol present in all
hemp seed food products.
“Providing these assurances to Ministers will take us one step closer to a standard that allows hemp seed food products
such as hemp milk, flour and muesli bars to be sold in New Zealand,” says Mrs Goodhew.
“I realise these delays are frustrating for industry, however carrying out this work will ensure the public can have the
utmost confidence in the safety of any hemp seed food that may be sold in New Zealand in the future.”
ENDS