Is Hemp Legal in Belgium?

Industrial hemp cultivation is legal in Belgium and forms part of the country's agricultural sector under the EU Common Agricultural Policy. Farmers must use seed varieties from the EU Common Catalogue of Varieties of Agricultural Plant Species, retain official seed labels for inspection, and declare hemp parcels in their annual single application to the regional paying agency (Vlaamse Landmaatschappij in Flanders, Service public de Wallonie in Wallonia, and Bruxelles Environnement in the Brussels Region).

Since the 2023 reform of the EU Common Agricultural Policy, the maximum THC content in field hemp was raised from 0.2% to 0.3%, measured according to the methodology in Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/126. The Service Public Federal Economie coordinates national implementation, while the Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain oversees food-grade hemp products including hemp seed oil, protein powder, and seed used in bakery and brewing. Hemp fibre for textiles, construction (hempcrete), and bioplastics is regulated by standard industrial product rules with no THC-specific licensing once harvested. Cultivation does not require a special narcotics licence provided varieties stay within the catalogue. Hemp seeds and hemp seed derivatives are excluded from the novel food regulation and may be sold freely as foodstuffs.

This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Verify current law with qualified counsel before making compliance decisions.