Verify hemp classifications and correct Iceland cultivation claims

Iceland letsmoves industrial-hemp seed permits to its food authority license imports of hemp seed

A new article inFarmers importing seed to grow industrial hemp now come under the drug act allows the Food and Veterinary Authority to permit imports of seeds of Cannabis sativa under conditions set by regulation, as an exception toreplacing the general ban on importingtemporary Medicines Agency exemption introduced in 2020. Eligible varieties must be listed in the common EEA agricultural catalogue, with no more than 0.2% THC in the seed and handling cannabisresulting products and documents showing compliance with seed rules.

Iceland — Regulation 804/2021, Articles 1–3; in force 9 July 2021 Icelandic Medicines Agency — Industrial-hemp responsibilities transfer to MAST, 14 July 2021 Alþingi — Lög um ávana- og fíkniefni, nr. 65/1974, 2. gr. b (L. 93/2021)

CultivationGrowing psychoactive cannabis is a criminal offenceprohibited under the drug act; indoor grows are regularly raided.[@act65,cann] Growing falls underIndustrial hemp has a separate lawful growing route using authorised seed varieties, with no more than 0.2% THC in the 1974 Act's bans on producingseed and possessing cannabisresulting products.[@act65hemp804] [Iceland wrote its cannabis ban into law in 1974.](/history/iceland-narcotics-act-1974/)

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Iceland bans cannabis cultivation outright; a 2020 regulation only opened a narrow exception letting the Medicines Agency license imports ofIndustrial hemp may be grown from eligible Cannabis sativa seed withunder the agricultural scheme overseen by the Food and Veterinary Authority, MAST.[@hemp804,hemptransfer] The seed and resulting products must contain no more than 0.2% THC, for fibre and food rather than planting at home.[@grapevinehemp804] There is no hemp marketVarieties must appear in the common EEA agricultural catalogue, and no THC threshold that makes a plant legal to growimported seed needs documents showing compliance with the catalogue and oil-and-fibre seed rules.[@grapevinehemp804] The [Hemp seed imports were licensed in 2021. framework](/history/iceland-hemp-seed-imports-2021/) replaced the temporary Medicines Agency exemption introduced in 2020.[@hemptransfer]

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No licensed production exists: growingIndustrial hemp is a criminal offencelawful crop under the 1974 ActMAST seed scheme, andwhich permits imports for cultivation of eligible varieties at no more than 0.2% THC.[@hemp804,hemptransfer] Growers must use seed meeting the only legal supply is pharmacy SativexEEA catalogue and Epidyolex on specialist prescriptiondocumentation requirements.[@act65hemp804] Psychoactive cannabis production remains prohibited under the drug act,ima subject to the Medicines Agency's power to grant revocable exceptions in special circumstances.[@act65]

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The drug act bans importing, selling, handing over, producing and possessing cannabis.[@act65] Since 2021 the Food and Veterinary Authority may licensepermit imports of eligible Cannabis sativa seed under conditions set byfor industrial-hemp cultivation, with a 0.2% THC ceiling and EEA variety and seed documentation requirements.[@act65,hemp804] The seed-import regulation; there is provides no such exceptionequivalent import route for plants or cuttings.[@act65hemp804] [Hemp seed imports were licensed in 2021.](/history/iceland-hemp-seed-imports-2021/)

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Iceland — Regulation 804/2021 on imports of industrial-hemp seed Icelandic Medicines Agency — Industrial-hemp responsibilities transfer to MAST, 14 July 2021 9 unchanged