Hemp production permitted in 21 provinces: To be sold in pharmacies
With a new regulation issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, production and inspection principles have been established for the use of hemp in medical, health, and personal care products, in addition to fiber, seed, and stalk production. Under the regulation, hemp cultivation is permitted in 21 provinces, and it has been decided that products derived from hemp may only be sold as licensed goods through pharmacies.
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The Regulation on Hemp Cultivation and Control, prepared by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, has been put into effect following its publication in the Official Gazette. The regulation establishes the principles for production, control, and inspection regarding the cultivation of hemp for various purposes.
PRODUCTION AND INSPECTION PROCESS ESTABLISHED
Within the scope of the regulation, the production of flowers and leaves for medical and health products, as well as personal care and supplement products with no narcotic effect, has been regulated in addition to fiber, seed, and stalk production. The methods to be applied at all stages from planting to harvest, the measures to be taken to prevent the misuse of flowers and leaves obtained from hemp, and the responsibilities of authorized institutions have been defined.
PROVINCES WHERE HEMP PRODUCTION IS PERMITTED
Hemp cultivation for the purpose of fiber, seed, and stalk production may be carried out in Amasya, Antalya, Bartın, Burdur, Çorum, İzmir, Karabük, Kastamonu, Kayseri, Konya, Kütahya, Malatya, Ordu, Rize, Samsun, Sinop, Sivas, Tokat, Uşak, Yozgat, and Zonguldak, as well as the districts of these provinces.
SPECIAL AREAS FOR MEDICAL AND HEALTH PRODUCTS
Hemp production for medical and health products may be carried out within the provincial borders where the Afyon Alkaloids Factory, affiliated with the Turkish Grain Board (TMO), is located, in organized agricultural zones, or in facilities that have received production site permits from the Ministry of Health, possess indoor and climate-controlled features, and have high security measures.
LICENSE AND PHARMACY SALE REQUIREMENT FOR HEMP PRODUCTS
With the regulation published by the Ministry of Health, the marketing of medical products, health-related products, and personal care and supplement products derived from hemp has been made subject to authorization. No product that has not received approval from the authorized institution may be offered for sale. Products within this scope will only be delivered to the consumer through pharmacies. The sale of medical and health-related products without a prescription has been prohibited.
A condition has been introduced that the THC ratio in supplement and personal care products must not exceed 0.3 percent. The compliance of this ratio will be documented with analysis reports to be obtained from authorized laboratories. In license applications, it will be mandatory to submit information regarding product content, production process, safety, and health effects, as well as packaging and labeling details, to the institution.
Licensed products will be tracked via an electronic tracking system with QR codes. All stages from production to the end user will be recorded. In the event that activities contrary to the legislation are detected, the institution will have the authority to recall the product from the market, or temporarily suspend or cancel the license. Administrative and judicial sanctions will be applied to sales that do not comply with the rules, and the relevant products will be destroyed.
APPLICATION AND PERMIT CALENDAR ANNOUNCED
Cultivation permits for fiber, seed, and stalk production will be obtained from the highest local administrative authority of the place where production will take place, between January 1 and April 1 of each year. Applications for the production of medical, health, and personal care and supplement products will be made to the Turkish Grain Board during the same period.