On 23 July, the Colombian President, Ivan Duque launched Decree N°811 of 2021 ?Decree on Safe and Informed Access to Cannabis Use? that introduces the application as food ingredient of hemp in Colombia. 

It is worth remembering that in Colombia the use of non-psychoactive cannabis was only ruled for medical and scientific purposes through Decree N° 613 of 2017. However, the new regulation brought a new and more comprehensive definition for ?Industrial purposes? of hemp derivatives (seed, oil, and other non-psychoactive derivatives). 

?Industrial purposes: uses other than medical and scientific uses, including, but not limited to, fibre uses, horticultural uses or uses for food, beverages, dietary supplements and cosmetic uses of the grain, plant component and non-psychoactive derivatives of cannabis for human and veterinary use. In any case, products for industrial purposes must comply with the specific health regulations applicable and may not have an amount of THC (including its isomers, salts and acid forms) equal to or higher than the control limit set by the Ministry of Health and Social Protection.?

Importantly, the new regulation will change the current approach from the National Institute for Surveillance of Food and Drugs (INVIMA) on the use of hemp as a food and food supplement ingredients, considering that in several product assessments carried out by the agency, they have concluded that ?hemp seeds, hemp seed extracts, hemp oil are not foodstuffs and cannot be used as food ingredients?. 

The text mandates the Ministry of Health and Social Protection to regulate this use in foodstuffs and food supplements, however it does not set out a schedule for it. 

It is worth remembering that in Argentina there is also a government proposal to regulate the industrial use of hemp being discussed. This way we could say that Colombia as well as Argentina are seeking to join the global trend that Ecuador and Uruguay are already part of in Latin America, having approved months ago the use of hemp as a food and food supplement ingredient.

If you are interested in exploring the opportunities and challenges for hemp products in the field of food and food supplements in Latin America, please do not hesitate in contact us.