Is Hemp Legal in North Macedonia?

Industrial hemp is legal in North Macedonia under the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy. Cultivation requires registration with the Ministry and use of certified seed varieties from the EU Common Catalogue. North Macedonia applies a 0.2 percent THC threshold, consistent with the historic EU benchmark before the 2021 increase to 0.3 percent at the EU level, though some published guidance now references 0.3 percent for EU-aligned harmonization.

Licensed acreage has expanded substantially since the 2016 medical cannabis framework opened. Hemp fiber, seed, and biomass for CBD extraction all operate under registered cultivation. Hemp-grain consumer foods including shelled hempseed, hempseed oil, and protein flour circulate through standard Food and Veterinary Agency oversight. The country's medical cannabis cultivation infrastructure has also supported the build-out of GMP hemp-CBD processing for export markets, particularly into the EU.

This is regulatory background only and not legal advice. Operators should consult a Macedonian attorney before establishing cultivation or processing operations; Ministry of Agriculture rulebooks include detailed inspection and seed-certification requirements.