Italy’s Hemp Industry Hopes the EU Will Save it From Government Bill
[ Article written by BEN STEVENS for Business of Cannabis link below]
The Italian hemp industry is mounting a defense against the Meloni government’s escalating efforts to criminalise light cannabis, including CBD products, amid fears that these measures could violate European Union regulations and devastate the sector.
As Business of Cannabis reported last week, on July 31, the joint Constitutional Affairs and Justice committees of the Chamber voted to add an amendment to the Security Bill, currently being debated in the Chamber, making flowering cannabis of all types, regardless of THC content, illegal and considered a narcotic.
As the Security Bill prepares to head to Parliament in September, the industry has found support from the 5-Star Movement (M5S) in Brussels.
M5S has urged the European Commission to intervene, arguing that the ban contradicts EU laws on the free movement of goods and the non-narcotic status of CBD as established by a 2020 EU Court ruling.
It comes after similar calls were made in June by a number of Italian cannabis and agricultural trade groups, who argued that the recent amendment ‘violate European Union law on free competition and movement of goods.
’Speaking to Business of Cannabis, the European Industrial Hemp Association (EIHA) said it had contacted the EC to emphasise that Italy should have followed the TRIS procedure, which ensures that member states notify the European Commission about any draft technical regulations that could affect trade within the internal market before adopting its national regulations.
Since Italy did not adhere to this procedure, the EC is now reviewing the situation using information provided by the EIHA. In the best-case scenario, the Commission may send a formal letter to the Italian government, addressing this procedural oversight and urging compliance with EU regulations.
The Commission is now reviewing complaints from Italian industry associations, with concerns that the legislation could threaten over 15,000 jobs and a €500 million market.
Even within Italy’s ruling coalition, there are growing doubts, with Forza Italia members calling for a reconsideration of the government’s hardline stance.
This divergence highlights cracks within the governing coalition, with the right-leaning Forza Italia urging a more pragmatic approach that considers the economic impact and aligns with European Union regulations, contrasting with the harder stance of its coalition partners.
A petition has now been started by the ICI Association of Italian Hemp Entrepreneurs, calling for Italian people to show support for the industrial hemp sector and firmly oppose the measures that compromise its future.
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