Australian Senate recommends clearer hemp pet product regulations

An Australian Senate committee has recommended that the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) simplify and clarify the regulatory framework for hemp-based pet nutrition products. The recommendation comes from the Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee report, titled ‘Opportunities for the development of a hemp industry in Australia’.

The report identified significant industry confusion regarding product classification, noting that inconsistent interpretations by the APVMA have hindered sector growth. Specifically, Recommendation 5 calls for the APVMA to clarify the requirements for hemp-based products to be classified as ‘Excluded Nutritional or Digestive’ (END) products.

END products are animal feed formulations that do not require full APVMA registration as veterinary chemical products, provided they adhere to strict standards for ingredients, manufacturing, labeling, and health claims. Industry representatives, including HempPet co-founder Arthur Wajs, stated that clearer guidelines are essential for manufacturers to distinguish nutritional supplements from registered veterinary medicines.