Hemp Today
The European Union has formally brought hemp-leaf tea into its food-safety framework, setting THC limits that take effect Jan. 1, 2027, another step toward normalizing leaves as a traditional hemp food.
European Commission Regulation 2026/1828 sets separate limits for the dried leaves and the tea made from them. Hemp leaves intended for infusion may contain no more than 40 mg/kg of total THC equivalents, while the ready-to-drink infusion is limited to 0.02 mg/kg. At that concentration, a 250-milliliter cup could contain no more than about 0.005 mg of THC equivalents. The European Industrial Hemp Association (EIHA) had previously proposed a higher limit of 0.08 mg/kg for heated non-alcoholic beverages, including hemp tea.
“While EIHA welcomes the EU’s further recognition of hemp-leaf infusions as a traditional food, we regret that such restrictive THC limits have been adopted,” said EIHA Managing Director Francesco Mirizzi. “They may make it extremely difficult to market many products derived from legally cultivated industrial hemp.”
EU sets THC limits for hemp-leaf tea, advancing recognition as traditional food
