In a shocking and controversial transfer, South Africa’s Minister of Health, Dr. Pakishe Aaron Motsoaledi, issued new rules on March 10, 2025, banning the sale, importation, and manufacture of hemp seed, hemp seed oil, hemp seed flour, and any half or by-product of Cannabis sativa L. in meals and cosmetics. The resolution has left the native hemp trade reeling and raised critical questions in regards to the authorities’s consistency in supporting the sector.
A Policy U-Turn
The new rules immediately contradict South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s latest public assist for the hemp and hashish industries. In his State of the Nation Address on February 6, 2025, President Ramaphosa emphasised the financial potential of hemp and hashish, stating, “We want South Africa to be leading in the commercial production of hemp and cannabis.” This newest resolution seems to undermine that imaginative and prescient, leaving trade leaders confused and annoyed.
Morris Beegle, writer of Let’s Talk Hemp, not too long ago visited South Africa and spoke with native stakeholders and authorities officers, leaving with a robust sense of optimism in regards to the trade’s future. In the not too long ago launched Let’s Talk Hemp Volume Up Podcast – The Cape Town Tapes, Beegle mentioned the promising potential of South Africa’s hemp and hashish markets, making the sudden ban much more perplexing. “This decision feels like an about-face,” Beegle commented. “It raises serious questions about the alignment and cohesion within the government.”
Industry Backlash
Tony Budden, a long-time hemp activist and co-founder of Hemporium, expressed his concern over the ban. “This decision directly contradicts the president’s statements and the broader economic goals of the country. Hemp foods are widely accepted and consumed globally for their nutritional benefits—this move sets South Africa back,” Budden mentioned.
He famous that nations just like the United States, Canada, China, and members of the European Union have efficiently built-in hemp into their meals industries, producing important financial worth. Budden warned that the ban may harm investor confidence and stall the momentum the South African hemp trade was starting to construct.
Cheeba Africa Cannabis and Hemp Academy echoed comparable considerations in a proper letter to President Ramaphosa. They highlighted hemp’s dietary advantages, noting that hemp seeds present a whole protein supply, important fatty acids, and key nutritional vitamins and minerals—vital in a rustic grappling with malnutrition and meals insecurity.
“At a time when South Africa is battling rising rates of obesity, diabetes, and malnutrition, banning a highly nutritious, natural, and sustainable food source is both illogical and detrimental to public health,” the letter said.
Economic and Regulatory Impact
Beyond well being and diet, the ban additionally threatens the financial potential of the hemp trade. Approximately 1,500 hemp cultivation permits have already been issued to South African farmers. Removing hemp meals from the market undercuts a rising phase of the trade, lowering alternatives for rural farmers and small companies.
Cheeba’s letter additionally identified the inconsistency throughout the authorities. While the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the Gauteng Department of Agriculture have been investing in hemp-based product improvement, the Department of Health’s resolution undermines these efforts. “This sends a damaging signal to both local and international investors who have shown cautious optimism about South Africa’s potential in this sector,” the letter said.
Calls for Clarity and Action
Stakeholders are urging the federal government to rethink the ban and have interaction with the trade to develop evidence-based insurance policies. Budden emphasised the necessity for consistency and alignment throughout authorities departments: “Without clear and consistent policies, the potential for growth and innovation in this sector could be stifled.”
Let’s Talk Hemp has reached out to the Department of Health for remark and is awaiting a response. Industry leaders stay hopeful that the federal government will reverse the choice and create a secure regulatory framework that helps the long-term progress of South Africa’s hemp trade.
The point out of firms and different enterprises in information tales and Q&As doesn’t indicate an endorsement by Let’s Talk Hemp or any enterprise relationship.
