As of 28 May 2026, the industrial hemp licensing scheme has been revoked and replaced by permission-based hemp regulations.
This change means that activities that previously required an industrial hemp licence can now be undertaken without one.
There are clear conditions around what constitutes hemp, including a tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) limit of no more than one percent of the dry weight of the plant.
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What is hemp?
A hemp plant is any Cannabis sativa plant which contains no more than one percent THC by dry weight. Hemp includes any part of the plant, including any seeds harvested from the plant.
A hemp product is any product made wholly or partly from the stalk or seed of the hemp plant, or any hemp seed food product.
Previously there was a list of approved hemp cultivars, however, this no longer exists. Any cannabis cultivar with a THC level of one percent or less is considered to be hemp.
All cannabis plants and their seeds remain controlled drugs, and it is recognised that different parts of the plant or plants at different stages of development may contain differing levels of cannabinoids. It is considered that the THC or THCA levels of a plant is based on the level of cannabinoid found in the appropriate sample (of the material where the cannabinoids are concentrated) taken at the appropriate time for testing prior to harvest. For clarity, clones, tissue, seedlings and seeds of a high THC cultivar of cannabis, are not considered to be hemp.
While testing of hemp is no longer required, should you wish to test your hemp, further information can be found in the testing of hemp section below.
What the change means in practice
It is possible to cultivate, possess, process, procure, sell or supply hemp without a licence for any of the following purposes:
- breeding new cultivars and varieties of hemp
- researching the suitability of cultivars and varieties of hemp for the production or manufacture of hemp products
- producing or manufacturing a hemp product, being a product made wholly or partly from the stalk or seed of the hemp plant
- selling or supplying hemp into the Medicinal Cannabis Scheme.
Companies or persons that want to cultivate hemp will first need to notify the NZ Police and Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI).
Hemp seed which has been hulled can be used in food and is regulated under the Food Act.
The changes do not authorise activities such as extraction from hemp plant or use of roots without the appropriate licence.
Notification requirements
If you are planning to cultivate hemp plants, and you don’t already have a medicinal cannabis licence, you are required to notify the NZ Police and the Ministry for Primary Industries prior to cultivating any hemp. Each notification is valid for a period of one year.
If you hold an industrial hemp licence which authorises the cultivation of hemp and you are intending to continue cultivating beyond the expiry of your hemp licence, you are required to notify the NZ Police and Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) prior to the expiry date listed on that licence.
Notification requirements for NZ Police
The notification to Police must include:
- Identity of the person intending to cultivate hemp
- Address and contact details of the person
- Location(s) to be used for cultivation, including the address and a plan or map of the area if the location is not easily identifiable from the address
- Description of the intended nature and scale of the cultivation.
If you do not notify the Police you may be at risk of enforcement action.
Visit the New Zealand Police website for further information.
Notification requirements for MPI
The notification to MPI must include:
- Identity of the person intending to cultivate hemp
- Address and contact details of the person.
Notification to MPI is required so it can provide guidance on managing risks to trade, food safety, and animal welfare that may arise from hemp cultivation.
Contact the Ministry for Primary Industries at: [email protected]
Import and export of hemp
Although a licence is no longer required for many hemp-related activities domestically, all Cannabis sativa plants, including hemp seeds and plant material, remain controlled drugs.
This means all hemp plant material (which includes the leaf or flower) and all whole hemp seed still require a licence to import or export.
A licence to import or export is not required for hemp products or hemp food products (such as stalks of hemp or hulled hemp seed).
As there is no longer an industrial hemp licence, the application process for an import/export licence is changing. You may need to apply for a Ministry of Justice criminal record so check ahead of submitting your application.
You can find more information on importing or exporting industrial hemp seed or plant material on the Medsafe website.
Testing of hemp
Whilst the testing requirements for hemp have been removed, growers may wish to continue testing to ensure that they are only growing or dealing with hemp and are complying with the regulations. There have been no changes to how hemp plant should be tested for analysis of the THC content.
Please note this is guidance only, and you should consult with your testing laboratory for full details.
Hemp is cannabis plant or fruit with less than one percent THC relative to the dried weight of the plant. To test for the THC level, the sample should be taken when the plant is at its highest THC content, i.e. at the soft seed stage (when the seeds are just visible, and no hard outer coat has developed). The sample(s) should be cut about 5cm from the top of the plant (from seed head or growing tip), and include all the leaf, seed head, and stalk. The sample(s) should then be air-dried for at least one day, preferably two.
At the testing laboratory, the plant sample(s) will be thoroughly dried. The stalk and seed will be removed, and the potency of the remaining leaf and flowering parts will be analysed. Potency is determined as the percentage of total THC (THC + THCA) relative to the dry weight of the plant material.
Legislation
The Misuse of Drugs (Industrial Hemp) Regulations 2006 were revoked on 28 May 2026 and replaced by permission-based regulations.
Activities with hemp plant material (including seeds) are subject to all other applicable legislative requirements. For example, if you intend to produce a food product from hulled hemp seed this is subject to the requirements under the Food Act 2014.
Other relevant information
Annual reports will no longer be required to be submitted.
All other applicable regulatory requirements remain in place. For example, if you are making a hemp seed food product, you still need to comply with the Food Act and associated regulations.
