Department Of Health Bans Cannabis And Hemp Food Products

The Department of Health has implemented a sweeping ban on the production, sale, and import of cannabis and hemp-derived foodstuffs.

This move could threaten to derail South Africa's budding cannabis industry and contradicts previous government commitments to commercialising the sector.

The decision, published in a government gazette, falls under the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics, and Disinfectants Act of 1972. It prohibits the sale, importation, and manufacture of any food containing components derived from the Cannabis Sativa L plant, including hemp, hemp seed oil, and hemp seed flour. The unexpected policy shift has sparked intense controversy, reigniting debates around cannabis safety, economic empowerment, and the government's commitment to cannabis legalisation.

What does the ban cover?

The newly gazetted regulations fall under the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics, and Disinfectants Act 1972 and explicitly prohibit all edible products derived from Cannabis sativa L., including: