Hemp definitions aligned with Cannabis Act

Summary#

This item is an erratum (correction) to the Proclamation Amending the Canadian Industrial Hemp Promotion-Research Agency Proclamation: SOR/2025-224, published earlier. It updates how two definitions are referenced so the proclamation matches recent changes to the law. The correction was published on December 17, 2025.

What it does#

• Changes the wording in section 1 of the Canadian Industrial Hemp Promotion-Research Agency Proclamation so its definitions match the Cannabis Act and the Industrial Hemp Regulations as recently changed.
• Specifically:
  • The term “derivative” is now defined by listing items 5 and 6 of Schedule 2 to the Cannabis Act instead of referring to subsection 2(3) of the Industrial Hemp Regulations.
  • The term “industrial hemp product” is now defined as industrial hemp plus items 1 to 4 of Schedule 2 to the Cannabis Act.
• Adds a short Regulatory Impact Analysis Statement explaining the reason for the correction and saying there is no change in administrative costs or burden.

Who's affected#

• The change mainly affects people and organizations that use the proclamation’s official definitions. That likely includes:
  • Hemp growers and processors
  • Researchers and organizations involved with the Canadian Industrial Hemp Promotion-Research Agency
  • Regulators and agencies that rely on the proclamation for legal definitions
• The notice does not list specific new requirements or fees. It is a clarification to align definitions after changes made in February 2025 to the related regulations.

Why it matters#

• The correction removes ambiguity about which hemp products fall under which label (an “industrial hemp product” versus a “derivative”). That can matter for who is covered by the Agency’s mandate, reporting, or programs that use those terms.
• The change is described as harmonizing wording with the Cannabis Act and Industrial Hemp Regulations, so it reduces inconsistency between federal texts.
• The government says this update does not change costs or administrative burden for businesses. The contact listed for questions is Carole Gendron at the Farm Products Council of Canada.