The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) has revised its regulatory stance on hemp-based animal nutrition products, delivering greater clarity and easing compliance burdens for manufacturers.
The update, issued May 1, follows months of concern over the classification of hemp ingredients in animal products. Previously, the APVMA had maintained that all veterinary products containing cannabis—including hemp—were considered veterinary chemical products, making any unregistered items, such as pet treats with hemp, effectively illegal.
Exemptions
The new guidance recognizes exemptions for certain nutrition products, including Excluded Nutritional or Digestive (END) products, empowering manufacturers to bring compliant offerings to market more confidently. The APVMA also introduced simplified compliance pathways and improved transparency.
The regulatory shift came just weeks after the Australian Industrial Hemp Alliance (AIHA) sent a formal letter to the APVMA challenging its approach. That letter, sent in April, cited evidence obtained via Freedom of Information (FOI) requests and outlined legal and commercial concerns that the previous stance had imposed a chilling effect on product development and market access.
The AIHA asked for a formal response within 30 days, and the APVMA’s updated position appeared to meet that demand in full.
Sector impact
“This is an important victory for the hemp industry,” said Charles Kovess, president of the AIHA. “The APVMA’s update restores confidence across the sector and enables compliant products to thrive in the marketplace.”
The AIHA says the clarification will encourage innovation and help unlock the potential of hemp-based nutrition for both pets and livestock. The organization also sees the decision as a turning point for broader industry growth, setting the stage for more Australian businesses to invest in hemp production and commercialization.