Paraguay advances: Industrial hemp enters animal feed sector

Paraguay's agroindustrial sector reaches a new milestone with the recent authorization from the National Service for Animal Quality and Health (Senacsa) for the production of animal feed using industrial cannabis. This provision marks the beginning of a new era in the country's animal food and supplement production.

The measure, announced by the Paraguay Industrial Hemp Chamber (CCIP), allows the use of non-psychoactive cannabis-derived raw materials in manufacturing various categories of products intended for animal consumption. The regulation specifically contemplates the use of seeds for transformation into flour and oil.

The protocol established by Senacsa represents a significant opportunity for the country's industrial development. The new regulation not only promotes foreign investment but also encourages local companies' participation in the production of cannabis-based feed and nutritional supplements.

The Brazilian market emerges as one of the most promising destinations for these products, considering it currently lacks a developed industry in this segment. The United States, Argentina, Canada, Australia, and Europe also appear as potential markets for exporting these Paraguayan products.

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The CCIP is currently working to promote modifications to Paraguay's cannabis legal framework. The main objective is to expand the possibilities for industrialization and exportation of both raw materials and value-added products derived from the plant. The bill under analysis seeks to update current cannabis use regulations, including reviewing the permitted THC limit, currently set at 0.5%, to align with international standards.

The legislative initiative is under study in the Senate's Anti-Drug Trafficking Commission. The sector expects the project to be discussed in the plenary and converted into law during 2025, establishing an updated regulatory framework for the industry. The proposed reform contemplates a control and oversight system to ensure safe and legal production of industrial cannabis-derived products.

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