Authority to Cultivate and Process Low-THC Cannabis - Victoria

Description

You will need authorisation if you intend to cultivate or process industrial hemp and seed for non-therapeutic (not medicinal) purposes.

Non-therapeutic uses of industrial hemp include:

  • fibre
  • cosmetics
  • food.

The allowable THC level for crops planted as industrial hemp (low-THC cannabis) in Victoria is as follows:

  • The seed used for sowing must be harvested from a low-THC cannabis crop with a THC level of 0.5 per cent or less; and
  • Crops tested at 1 per cent THC or less may be harvested and processed for food (from the seed only) and / or fibre (from the stem only).

 

Service type

Licence

A licence defines the need to obtain recognition / certification and registration to undertake a certain business activity.

Eligibility requirements

To be eligible for this authority, you must:

  • satisfy the agency that you and your associates are suitable to hold an authorisation
  • not have been found guilty of a serious offence in the past ten years (this also applies to your associates)
  • ensure that the locality, facilities and proposed security arrangements are suitable for the activities you will undertake.

The agency will carry out a full investigation into your application, and may refer a copy of your application to Victoria Police.

You are required to provide:

  • national criminal history checks for yourself and your associates
  • credit report
  • business or research plan
  • information about the proposed growing site(s) as part of the application process.

Ongoing eligibility requirements

Authorisation is subject to a number of condition relating to matters including:

  • the premises or site at which the activities are carried out
  • the source of seed for sowing
  • maintenance of satisfactory security and surveillance measures
  • record keeping and reporting
  • inspection arrangements.

Duration

Three years

Fees

Fees Details for this service in table format.

Task Type Business Structure Amount Description
Apply Application All $490.00

Fees for 2024-25

Apply Inspection All $57.16

Certain activities (Sampling, Inspections). Fees for 2024-25

Apply Inspection All $57.16

Proposed New Sites (For current licence holders). Fees for 2024-25

Renew Renewal All $155.14

Fees for 2024-25

Forms

Act(s) name

Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Act 1981 Victoria

Regulation(s) name

Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances (Industrial Hemp) Regulations 2008 Victoria

Administering agency

Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action

Agriculture Victoria

Contact details

Contact Email, Phone and Address Details for this service in simple two column table format, header then data.