US and EU hemp product regulation

Regulatory efforts regarding hemp-derived products and THC content levels are evolving across the United States and the European Union. In the US, federal lawmakers introduced the Beverage Regulatory Parity Act to create a framework for hemp-derived beverages containing up to 5 milligrams of intoxicating THC per serving, modeled after alcohol regulation. This follows a 2025 law that limited hemp definitions to products with no more than 0.4 milligrams of total THC per container.

In the European Union, new regulations will classify hemp-leaf tea as a traditional food rather than a ‘novel food’ starting January 1, 2027. These rules set THC limits of 40 milligrams per kilogram for leaves intended for water infusion and 0.02 mg/kg for ready-to-drink infusions.

At the state and regional levels in the US, these tightening restrictions are creating industry instability. In Missouri, a scheduled ban will classify products exceeding 0.4 milligrams of THC per container as marijuana, restricting sales to licensed dispensaries. Similarly, in Kentucky, proposed federal regulations targeting products with more than 0.4 milligrams of THC threaten a local hemp industry valued at over $330 million. Business owners and medical professionals have raised concerns regarding economic devastation and the loss of access to medicinal products for pain and anxiety management.