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European Industrial Hemp Association

EIHA

The "European Industrial Hemp Association (EIHA)" has formed itself as an association of Hemp primary processing companies within the EU (regular members).

Lobbying Activity

Meeting with Koen Van Dyck (Head of Unit Health and Food Safety)

26 May 2025 · Exchange of views on the use of hemp derived products in food and feed

Response to Towards a Circular, Regenerative and Competitive Bioeconomy

29 Apr 2025

The EIHA would like to highlight the essential role that industrial hemp can play in building a circular, regenerative, and competitive EU bioeconomy. 1. A Multipurpose Crop for the European Bioeconomy Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) is an annual, multipurpose crop delivering a wide range of sustainable products. It provides food (seeds, seed oil), biomass (fibres, shives), and extracts used in food supplements, feed additives, green chemistry, and pharmaceuticals. Crucially, hemp can be cultivated in nearly every EU region, supporting rural economies and promoting agricultural diversification. Its rapid growth and low input needs make it an ideal rotational crop, enhancing soil health and subsequent yields. 2. Wide Range of Applications Supporting Industrial Development Hemp fibres, shives, seeds, and extracts have numerous industrial applications. Fibres are used in textiles, construction materials (e.g., insulation), non-wovens, composites, and automotive sectors. Shives are essential for construction and horticulture. Seeds and extracts are increasingly used in the food, feed, nutraceutical, and cosmetic sectors. Hemp biomass holds significant promise for green chemistry and biomanufacturing, offering renewable alternatives to fossil-based raw materials. 3. Regional Development, Reshoring, and Creative Industries The versatility of hemp enables its integration into diverse EU regions, boosting local bioeconomies and offering new markets. Cultivation and processing can reshore essential industries and stimulate high-skilled employment linked to manufacturing and the creative sectors (e.g., design, architecture, fashion). Though largely small-scale today, hemp breeding and processing show strong scale-up potential. 4. Removing Barriers: Ensuring a Level Playing Field Despite its promise, hemp faces barriers from diverging interpretations of EU rules across Member States. Fragmented legislation and excessive administrative burden ('red tape') hinder market development. We urge the Commission to ensure harmonised application of EU law and lift outdated restrictions. 5. Promoting Hemp through Green Public Procurement Green public procurement is a crucial tool to boost demand for sustainable products. We encourage the inclusion of hemp-based solutions in procurement frameworks, particularly in construction, textiles, and food, while keeping the door open for other sectors. Clear bio-based criteria will accelerate market adoption. 6. Better Monitoring and Stronger Interservice Coordination Monitoring the bioeconomys development, including hemps role, is essential. Stronger coordination between DG GROW, DG AGRI, and others would ensure a consistent, cross-sectoral approach, helping to identify support needs and opportunities. 7. Facilitating Investment and Research-to-Market Pathways Investment in scaling up hemp production and processing is critical. Research results from EU-funded projects should be actively valorised, bridging innovation to market and attracting private investment. 8. Hemps Sustainability Credentials Hemp fits naturally into the EUs circular and regenerative vision. It improves soil structure, requires minimal pesticide and fertiliser inputs, enhances biodiversity, and has a very low environmental footprint. 9. Further Contributions to the EUs Bioeconomy Goals Rural resilience and food security: Hemp diversifies farmers' incomes and supports rural vitality. Circularity and resource efficiency: Hemp embodies a 'zero waste' model, maximising biomass use. Biodiversity protection: Low input needs and soil phytoremediation make hemp an ally for biodiversity. Global competitiveness: Leveraging hemp strengthens Europes position against growing international bioeconomy competition. Biotechnology and biomanufacturing: Hemp-derived materials can contribute to the ambitions of the upcoming European Biotech Act, supporting bio-based innovation.
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Meeting with Valérie Hayer (Member of the European Parliament)

12 Mar 2025 · Divers

Meeting with Cristina Guarda (Member of the European Parliament)

27 Jan 2025 · Hemp - sector challenges

Meeting with Veronika Vrecionová (Member of the European Parliament, Committee chair)

2 Dec 2024 · Hemp in agriculture

Meeting with Stefan Köhler (Member of the European Parliament)

2 Dec 2024 · Politischer Austausch

Meeting with Ondřej Krutílek (Member of the European Parliament)

2 Dec 2024 · Changes in CAP after 2027

Meeting with Arash Saeidi (Member of the European Parliament)

15 Oct 2024 · Rencontre au sujet de la filière chanvre

Meeting with Michal Wiezik (Member of the European Parliament)

2 Oct 2024 · Industrial hemp sector

Meeting with Cristina Maestre (Member of the European Parliament)

26 Sept 2024 · Introductory meeting with EIHA

Meeting with Cristina Guarda (Member of the European Parliament)

24 Sept 2024 · Agricolture

Meeting with Martin Häusling (Member of the European Parliament)

24 Sept 2024 · Exchange on CAP and Hemp in the EU

Meeting with Valérie Hayer (Member of the European Parliament)

12 Sept 2024 · Hemp

Meeting with Sebastian Everding (Member of the European Parliament) and PETA International Science Consortium Ltd.

11 Sept 2024 · Introductory meeting

Response to Evaluation of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) 2017-2024

27 Mar 2024

As the European Industrial Hemp Association (EIHA), we'd like to highlight our main concerns regarding the EFSA's performance, particularly focusing on the Novel Food (NF) application process. The lengthy process imposes significant financial and operational challenges on our members, especially SMEs. Inconsistencies in application timelines and excessive demands complicate planning and innovation. Technical issues with the submission platform and the limited utility of the pre-submission phase further hinder efficient application submissions. We urge for a streamlined process and more practical considerations to facilitate innovation while ensuring food safety. We aim to support a regulatory environment that is both thorough and accommodating for all stakeholders.
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Response to Setting and reviewing maximum levels for certain undesirable substances in feed

9 Jan 2024

Enclosed is the EIHA's position paper on the proposed maximum levels of THC in feed. This document provides a comprehensive analysis and recommendations, emphasizing the need for scientifically-based and economically viable THC limits in animal feed. We believe these insights will contribute significantly to the ongoing discussions and decision-making process.
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Response to Revision of EU rules on textile labelling

11 Sept 2023

The European Industrial Hemp Association shares the Commissions concerns about labels missing key information that helps consumers make sustainable choices. Incomplete labels confuse consumers and lead to wasteful consumption. When reviewing the Textile Labelling Regulation, the EC should align it with other laws like the Waste Framework Directive, ESPR, and the Green Claims Directive. Textile labels must inform consumers about caring for garments, extending their lifespan through repair and recycling, and disclosing the true fibre content. Include microplastic warning A microplastic warning on textile labels serves as a critical reminder of the hidden environmental impacts associated with our clothing choices. Microplastics pose a significant threat to aquatic and food ecosystems. Including this warning alerts consumers to the potential shedding of microplastics from the garment, prompting them to take precautions or opting for natural fibres over synthetics. Clear and truthful product descriptions True fibre composition should be reflected on all product names, descriptions as well as labels. Removing misleading language such as silky or mesh should be replaced by truthful descriptions such as polyester or wool. This not only promotes transparency but aids citizens to make informed purchasing decisions. Myth-busting recycled synthetics The belief that recycled polyester clothing is inherently sustainable is misleading. Most rPET comes from plastic PET bottles, but downcycling rPET into the textile industry disrupts an effective closed-loop system, rendering it to a single-use linear model instead of a circular one. These clothes shed microplastics and end up in landfill. Promoting recycled polyester can unintentionally encourage greenwashing and divert attention from away from other eco-friendly alternative like natural fibres. Informing textile environmental strategies Information gathered at the waste collection facility provides valuable insights into the use phase and the causes of clothing reaching end-of-life and this information can provide robust evidence for improving EU strategies such as Ecodesign, Extended Producer Responsibility, Circularity and the Waste Framework Directive. Vital information to capture on labels or product passports (DPP) includes, year of manufacture, raw material type(s) and subcategory type (i.e. t-shirt, sweater or jacket). Include alternative care options Textile care symbols on labels can improve garment care, helping consumers prolong garment lifespan and reduce environmental impacts. For example, animal fibre-based products benefit from airing or spot cleaning instead of washing. Sharing such alternative care tips supports the EU's sustainability goals. Include information on repairability and recyclability Including information on repairability and recyclability can encourage consumers to keep products longer and properly recycle them at end of life. Extending the use phase can defer product replacement. nowing that a garment can be recycled can influence purchasing decisions in favour of more sustainable options.
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Response to European common agricultural policy network, governance

14 Jul 2022

The European Industrial Hemp Association (EIHA) welcomes the initiative to create a European CAP network and encourages the Commission to continue steering multi-stakeholder discussions on agricultural topics. Nonetheless, we believe that fair rules for the participation to the Assembly (article 4) should be set, ensuring the highest representativity and the fullest transparency. By limiting the access to Union-wide non-governmental organisations who have been appointed members of the civil dialogue groups on the common agricultural policy (CAP) the Commission fails at capturing the reality of the agricultural sector. The appointment of such NGOs dates back to 2014 and does not represent at the fullest what agriculture is today. In addition, many EU NGOs that regularly exchange with the EU Commission on agricultural topics and/or attend the CDG meetings, are not necessarily full entitled members of the CDG system, despite the resources, knowledge and energies spent in contributing to the EU policies. A more inclusive approach is clearly needed to provide adapted responses to the many challenges of the upcoming years. The Assembly cannot be the still picture of a 2014 decision, completely disconnected from today's reality, but a truly representative body that can adapt to fast changing times. Therefore, the EIHA proposes that the Commission opens a call for experts for Union-wide NGOs and commits to renew the Assembly membership where needed and/or on a regular basis. This would ensure higher credibility to the network and a strong pool of knowledge capable of giving relevant feedbacks to policy makers.
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Response to Carbon Removal Certification

2 May 2022

The European Industrial Hemp Association (EIHA) welcomes and fully supports the European Commission’s vision and commits to work with EU bodies with the aim of pursuing the Green Deal objectives and contributing to the recovery of the EU Economy. EIHA intends to focus particularly on highlighting how hemp can make a key contribution to upscaling innovative solutions capable of accelerating the transition towards a regenerative growth model that gives back to the planet more than it takes whilst creating many thousands of new green and highly-skilled jobs in rural areas and in manufacturing. However, a harmonized approach towards the certification of carbon removal is key for achieving the full potential that hemp has to offer. Without a clear, common, and established methodology and policy framework facilitating its use among business operators (possibly at zero additional costs), a true bio-based economy is unlikely to emerge. For this reason, EIHA warmly supports the work done by the Commission services in this sense. If used as an alternative to carbon-based raw materials, hemp would allow us to capture and store a substantial amount of CO2. Hemp grows rapidly (4 to 5 months), is tall (up to 5 meters) and deep rooted into the ground (up to 3 meters): it is indeed a perfect crop for storing carbon. Although hemp roots capture carbon, it is difficult to assess precisely the quantity retained, therefore, the calculation provided below will only refer to the aerial parts of the hemp plant. However, by a simple calculation we can infer an average value. One tonne of harvested hemp stem contains 0.7 tonnes of cellulose (45% carbon), 0.22 tonnes of hemicellulose (48% carbon) and 0.06 tonnes of lignin (40% carbon). Consequently, every tonne of industrial hemp stems contains 0.445 tonnes carbon absorbed from the atmosphere (44.46% of stem dry weight). Converting carbon to CO2 (12 t of C equals 44 t of CO2), this represents 1.6 tonnes of CO2 absorption per tonne of hemp. On a land use basis, using a yield average of 5.5 to 8 t/ha, this represents 9 to 13 tonnes of CO2 absorption per hectare harvested. The real added value of industrial hemp is its ability to produce different products with one crop and store carbon in them: food, feed, cosmetics, biomaterials, energy while achieving positive environmental externalities with one rotational crop. Its versatile nature otentially represents multi-billion € downstream markets in the Bio-economy, particularly in manufacturing of reusable, recyclable and compostable biomaterials. Therefore, hemp is capable of dramatically contributing to decarbonising essential products for a future-proof and a thriving sustainable Economy. Hemp-based construction materials are possibly those that could have the highest positive impact. With an exceptional thermal performance which reduces energy consumption, they can at the same time sequester carbon over long periods. These include hempcrete (a hemp-lime composite walling and insulation material), as well as hemp wool and fibre-board insulation. Making one ton of steel emits 1.46 tons of CO2, and 198kg of CO2 are emitted to make one ton of reinforced concrete. Conversely, one square meter of timber framed, hemp-lime wall (weighing 120kg), without considering the energy cost for the transportation and placement of the material, sequesters 35.5kg of atmospheric CO2 for the lifetime of the building. In addition to construction material, hemp can be used to store carbon in textile, non woven, paper, bio-based, composites and packaging products. In the framework of the establishment of a EU certification system for carbon removals, hemp must be taken into account and acknowledged as a strategic raw material that can sequester as much carbon as forests and create positive synergies between the farming sector and the manufacturing industry.
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Response to EU strategy for sustainable textiles

28 Jan 2021

Given the interest of the Commission to explore new materials and business models as well as the high economic and environmental value of hemp farming (less water than cotton, few or no phytosanitary products, high yield per hectare), hemp fibre shall be one of the main natural fibre that the EU should look at with the aim of creating a truly European and sustainable textile sector. In terms of quality and performance, hemp fibre stands out as probably the strongest and most durable in nature (+25%/30% compared to cotton). The Commission should actively encourage the re-localisation of all processing stages of textile production to the EU, in order to decrease the risks, costs and negative externalities inherent to a global value chain. Furthermore, this would help the EU regaining a partial raw material sovereignty and create jobs and growth. Industrial hemp is a raw material available all over Europe, unlike cotton, jute or flax. By processing it on the EU territory, it could steer a positive cascade effect downstream in the textile product value chain and boost the creation of new jobs, greatly appealing for young farmers and enterpreneurs. The Commission should recognise and value the potential of hemp for carbon storage in the soil, the decarbonisation of manufactured goods and the other ecosystem services hemp farming provides (biodiversity, soil protection and recovering, etc.). Hence, the increase of natural fibre share on the market shall be seen as a valuable alternative and necessary complement of an enhanced synthetic textile recycling, as well as a concrete action for reducing and/or balancing CO2 emissions. The Commission should establish a multi-stakeholder dialogue, where all the actors of the value chain can raise their concerns on an equal footing and contribute in full transparency to the designing of policies. They should be accompanied by academic representatives and research bodies, in the view of basing the policy decisions on the latest scientific literature. The EU, in collaboration with relevant national and international bodies, should provide traceability and certification systems fit for informing consumers on the sustainability of the products, based on verified datasets and scientific validated methodologies that takes into account the ecosystem services provided by each actor of the value chain. Block-chain and matrix barcodes technologies shall be considered as possible ways of facilitating such exercise. Private certification schemes already used in the Industry (the Higg Index for example) should not be considered as established standards. Furthermore, their use in B2B and B2C should not be encouraged as it steers a scattered approach, resulting in possible inequalities among operators.
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Meeting with Monique Pariat (Director-General Migration and Home Affairs)

4 Dec 2020 · industrial hemp products, as well as concerns regarding the recent classification of food products derived from industrial hemp (Cannabis Sativa L.).

Meeting with Mikuláš Peksa (Member of the European Parliament)

18 Nov 2020 · Plans and priorities

Meeting with Marius Vascega (Cabinet of Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius)

5 Nov 2020 · Initiatives for enhancing the product sustainability, upcoming Textile Strategy, The status of hemp under the EU legislation.