News

Govt sets up hemp task force

By Zoe McMaugh

Feb 25, 2024

The NSW Government is continuing work to future proof NSW Agriculture production and support growers across all sectors by establishing the Hemp Industry Taskforce.

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The task force will include 12 representatives from growers and industry associations. It will consider options to support the continual growth of the NSW industrial hemp industry, supporting jobs in rural and regional NSW.

With the global hemp market expected to quadruple by 2027 to $18.6 billion, facilitating the expansion of the NSW industrial hemp sector is seen as timely and critical.

Globally, hemp is estimated to be used in more than 25,000 products spanning nine sub-markets, including agriculture, building materials and textiles.

At monthly meetings, supported by the NSW Department of Primary Industries, the task force will identify the short, medium and long term objectives of the NSW industrial hemp industry.

The taskforce will only consider the cultivation and supply of low-THC hemp grown under the NSW Industrial Hemp Act 2008.

It will not consider the production of hemp for use as a therapeutic good (e.g. medicines) as this is restricted and requires a licence from the Office of Drug Control and approval from the Therapeutic Goods Administration.