Service Standard for Issuance of Industrial Hemp Import and Export Permits under the Cannabis Act and its Regulations

Service Description:

Health Canada posts service standards and performance information for services with over 100 regulatory authorizations, such as permits or licences, issued each year (high-volume regulatory transactions).

The Cannabis Act and its Regulations govern the applications for licences and permits. Licence holders under the Industrial Hemp Regulations may import or export seed or grain of industrial hemp if authorized for the relevant activity on their licence. The necessary information to be submitted by a licence holder to apply for an import or export permit is detailed under sections 9 and 13 of the Industrial Hemp Regulations respectively.

A permit is required for each individual shipment of industrial hemp and each permit application is assessed on a case-by-case basis. It is prohibited for industrial hemp licence holders to import or export whole plant parts, as this activity would have to be carried out by a licence holder under the Cannabis Regulations.

Application forms for permits are found on the Health Canada website:

• Application for a permit to import industrial hemp
• Application for a permit to export industrial hemp

Complete applications must be submitted to import-export-cannabis-importation-exportation@hc-sc.gc.ca

Service Standard:

Health Canada commits to a non-binding administrative service standard of 30 business days from the date an application is deemed complete by Health Canada to the date a decision is issued to the applicant (permit sent/application refused).

The time the application is with the applicant for additional required information does not count towards the service standard.

Performance Target:

The target for achieving this standard is set at 85%.

Performance result in fiscal year 2020 to 2021:

In 2020-2021, 28% of import and export permits of industrial hemp were processed within the 30 business day service standard.

Departmental Contact:

Industrial Hemp Unit
Specialized Authorizations Division
Cannabis Licensing and Medical Access Directorate
Controlled Substances and Cannabis Branch
Health Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0K9

E-mail: hemp-chanvre@hc-sc.gc.ca