THE state’s peak farming body says inaction on legalising industrial hemp has failed the commonsense test, and is delaying the growth of a new industry.
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Australia and New Zealand Ministerial Forum on Food Regulations last week decided to consider more reports on low THC hemp in March next year.
Hemp products, such as the edible grain, can be imported, but local products cannot be sold in Australia.
Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association president Wayne Johnston questioned whether there had ever been a slower entry to the Australian food market.
Mr Johnston said Australia and New Zealand were the last countries to legalise it.
‘‘People have been consuming food derived from hemp since the caveman, but not in Australia,’’ Mr Johnston said.
‘‘There’s no commonsense in it.
‘‘It’s so frustrating for people that are trying to have a genuine crack at creating a new industry.’’
FSANZ has found that foods derived from hemp seeds could provide a useful dietary source of many nutrients and polyunsaturated fatty acids, particularly omega-3 fatty acids.
‘‘They had no psychoactive properties,’’ Mr Johnston said.
Bass Greens MHA Andrea Dawkins said hemp had received tripartite support in the Tasmania Parliament, but FSANZ had failed to follow the rest of the developed world’s lead and approve its sale.
‘‘This rejection was based on perceived information gaps, but this has been the product of a decade’s work,’’ Ms Dawkins said.
‘‘It’s hard to imagine what those gaps would be after all this time.’’
