Institutional arrangements for the implementation of the cannabis and hemp master plan have been put in place, trade industry & competition minister Parks Tau confirmed in a recent written reply to a parliamentary question.
The arrangements signal a shift towards broader consultation on the plan.
Tau was replying to a question submitted by DA spokesperson on trade, industry & competition Toby Chance, who sought clarity on the formal structures and resource commitments supporting the plan.
Tau stated that the implementation framework included an intergovernmental committee, a steering committee with representation from government, industry, labour and communities, a dedicated secretariat and a programme management unit.
Oversight is provided by the interministerial committee on hemp and cannabis. The department of trade, industry & competition leads the process, supported by other departments including agriculture, health, justice, science and innovation, small business development and the police.
Tau’s confirmation follows a significant regulatory reversal by the department of health, which on March 7 implemented a ban on the production, sale and import of foodstuffs containing any part of the cannabis plant, including hemp seed oil and flour.
The regulation, issued under the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectants Act, was met with widespread criticism from industry stakeholders, legal experts and opposition parties, including the DA, who argued that the ban was enacted without public consultation and posed a threat to more than 1,400 licensed businesses and 400 SMMEs in the hemp sector.
On April 1 the presidency announced that the minister of health would withdraw the regulation to allow for broader stakeholder engagement.
The statement acknowledged the need for revised regulations that would “limit health risk and the negative impact of foodstuffs containing cannabis and hemp, particularly on minors”.
The department of health cited concerns about unregulated imports and referenced incidents involving cannabis-laced products consumed by children.
The withdrawal of the ban is seen as a critical development in the context of the cannabis and hemp master plan, which aims to unlock the economic potential of the cannabis and hemp industries through structured institutional support.
The now-reversed food regulation had threatened to undermine those efforts by disrupting a key segment of the value chain.
Industry organisations, including Friends of Hemp SA and the Cannabis Trade Association Africa, welcomed the withdrawal but stressed the need for regulatory certainty and inclusive policy development.
The DA reiterated its call for the government to support the sector through clear, science-based regulations that promote economic growth and public health.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.