List of Approved Cultivars for the 2018 Growing Season - Cannabis sativa L.

Opioid Response Team
Industrial Hemp Regulations

Pursuant to Subsection 39(1) of the Industrial Hemp Regulations and the Section 56(1) Class Exemption in Relation to the Industrial Hemp Regulations, the following industrial hemp varieties are approved for commercial cultivation under licence for the year 2018. The list may contain variety names that are synonyms for the same variety.

All cultivars may be grown in all regions, however requirements for THC testing under subsection 16(1) of the IHR may vary from province to province, as indicated in the table above.

*As per the Section 56(1) Class Exemption in Relation the Industrial Hemp Regulations, THC testing for grain and fibre has been eliminated.  THC testing requirements remains for cultivators of Industrial Hemp for pedigreed seed or for inclusion of an industrial hemp variety on the List of Approved Cultivars.

Amendments to the List of Approved Cultivars for 2018:

Amendments: No amendments were made this year.
Additions:       Altair, Angie, Laura Secord, Martha and Quida were added to the list this year.
Deletions:       No varieties were removed from the list this year.
Observation:  No varieties are under observation.

Please Note:
Subsection 14(3) of the Industrial Hemp Regulations (IHR) requires that all seed planted for the production of industrial hemp in Canada must be of pedigreed status (Certified or higher status). This means that seed cannot be imported directly from countries that are not recognized by one of the Seed Certification Schemes of which Canada is a member. Canada is a member of two schemes, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Seed Scheme and that administered by the Association of Official Seed Certifying Agencies (AOSCA). Farm saved non-pedigreed seed cannot be planted. Official seed tags will be requested by an inspector as evidence of compliance.

Under Subsection 16(1) of the IHR, a person who holds a licence to cultivate industrial hemp is required by law to have their crop sampled by an authorized Crop Sampler, unless the variety is specifically exempted from this testing.  However, because of the issuance of the section 56(1) class exemption, a person who holds a licence to cultivate industrial hemp for grain and fibre is no longer required to have their crops sampled for testing.  A person who is cultivating industrial hemp for pedigreed seed or for the inclusion of an industrial hemp variety on the List of Approved Cultivars is still required to have their crop sampled by an authorized Crop Sampler. Sampling by a designated inspector does not exempt a licence holder from testing requirements.  The sample taken by the authorized Crop Sampler must be tested by a competent laboratory, licensed for testing industrial hemp.  A list of licensed laboratories is available on our website.  Test results must be reported to the Office of Controlled Substances, at the address below.  Varieties which are found to consistently exceed 0.3% THC may be removed from the List of Approved Cultivars.

Nine varieties, Canda, CFX-1, CFX-2, Crag, CRS-1, Joey, USO 14, USO 31 and X-59 (Hemp Nut) are exempted from annual testing as required under paragraph 16(1) of the IHR for all regions of Canada.  The varieties Alyssa, Anka, CanMa, Delores, Ferimon, Jutta, Silesia and Zolotonosha 11 are only exempt in the provinces indicated in the table above.  All varieties have been evaluated against the Policy on the Exemption of Industrial Hemp Varieties from THC Testing During the Growing Season.  A copy of this policy can be found on our website at www.healthcanada.gc.ca/hemp.

The Office of Controlled Substances must be informed immediately in writing in the event of crop failure where samples cannot be drawn for testing.

Questions regarding the List of Approved Cultivars - 2018 may be submitted to:
Industrial Hemp Section
Office of Controlled Substances
Health Canada
AL 0300B
Ottawa ON  K1A 0K9
Email: hemp-chanvre@hc-sc.gc.ca

Paul Loo
Director
Office of Controlled Substances