Italian hemp producers are filing a lawsuit against Article 18 of Italy's new security decree, which prohibits the sale and processing of hemp inflorescences. This is argued to violate EU's Single Market Transparency Directive (1535/2015), as the Italian government failed to notify the European Commission of the law before enactment.
The European Commission has acknowledged the potential violation of the directive and indicated in a letter that national courts can refuse to apply national laws adopted without proper notification. The legal action seeks to invalidate Article 18, highlighting the similar situation with the now-defunct ban on cultivated meat. The outcome could significantly impact Italy's hemp industry and 30,000 related jobs.
The legal action is spearheaded by Canapa Sativa Italia (CSI) and Imprenditori Canapa Italia (ICI), with support from Italian parliament member Stefano Vaccari. The case, focusing on the lack of prior notification to the European Commission, could set a precedent for future legal challenges against similar regulations.