How Hemp Rules Differ Around the World
The United States defines legal hemp as cannabis with no more than 0.3% THC, but other countries use different limits and different rules for what counts as a legal hemp product. The European Union, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia each treat hemp gummies, hemp seed foods, and CBD differently. A product that is legal to buy in one country can be restricted, unregulated, or treated as a controlled substance in another. This matters most when packing hemp gummies for a trip, ordering hemp products from an overseas seller, or reading label claims that were written for a different country’s rules.
Quick Comparison: THC Limits and CBD Status by Region
- United States: Hemp is defined as cannabis with no more than 0.3% delta-9 THC by dry weight, under the 2018 Farm Bill. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) regulates hemp cultivation at this threshold.
- European Union: Hemp grown for cultivation must come from approved varieties within the EU’s THC limit, and separate maximum THC levels apply to hemp seeds and hemp seed oil sold as food.
- United Kingdom: Hemp cultivation has historically used a lower THC threshold than the US, and THC is treated as a controlled substance in the UK even at trace levels in food, with a specific safety limit set for unavoidable THC traces in CBD products.
- Canada: Under the Cannabis Act, CBD from any source, including industrial hemp, is regulated as cannabis. This is a different approach than the US, where hemp-derived CBD under 0.3% THC generally falls outside cannabis law.
- Australia: Low-THC hemp seed foods are legal under the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code, but CBD itself is classified as a Prescription Only Medicine in most cases and is not treated as an ordinary food or supplement ingredient.
United States: The 0.3% THC Baseline
The 2018 Farm Bill removed hemp, defined as cannabis with no more than 0.3% delta-9 THC on a dry-weight basis, from the federal list of controlled substances. The USDA oversees hemp cultivation under this rule, while the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates hemp-derived products such as CBD once they reach consumers. The FDA has stated that it is currently illegal to market CBD by adding it to food or labeling it as a dietary supplement, even though many sellers do so. Individual states can also add their own restrictions on top of federal rules, so legality can vary by state as well as by country.
European Union: Cultivation Rules and Food Limits
The EU sets a maximum THC content for hemp varieties eligible for cultivation, and separately sets maximum THC levels for hemp seeds and hemp seed oil sold as food. These are two different kinds of limits measured in different ways, and hemp seed oil has its own food safety limit distinct from those for whole and ground hemp seeds. CBD extracts intended for use in food fall under the EU’s Novel Food Regulation, meaning a CBD food product generally needs safety authorization before it can be legally sold as a food across the EU, separate from any rules that apply to the hemp plant itself.
United Kingdom: A Different Path From the EU
The UK regulates hemp cultivation through its own licensing system, which has historically used a lower THC threshold for licensed hemp varieties than the US does. THC is a controlled drug in the UK regardless of source, so CBD products sold to consumers are expected to keep THC at or below a specific safety limit set by UK food safety authorities, rather than simply meeting a hemp cultivation threshold. CBD food products sold in the UK also go through the UK’s own novel food authorization process, which is separate from the EU’s.
Canada: CBD Is Regulated as Cannabis
Canada’s approach is the sharpest contrast with the US. Under the Cannabis Act, CBD is a controlled substance regardless of whether it comes from industrial hemp or another cannabis variety, and CBD products are subject to the same licensing, packaging, and sales rules that apply to cannabis generally. Hemp seeds, hemp seed oil, and hemp fiber products are treated differently and are not regulated as cannabis, but a hemp gummy containing CBD would fall under Canada’s Cannabis Act framework rather than being treated as an ordinary food or supplement, the way it might be marketed in the US.
Australia: Hemp Food Is Legal, but CBD Is Restricted
Low-THC hemp seed foods, such as hemp seed oil, hemp flour, and hemp protein powder, are legal to sell and consume in Australia under the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code, provided they meet strict limits on THC and CBD content and follow labeling rules that prevent any suggestion of a psychoactive effect. CBD itself is treated differently: it is classified as a Prescription Only Medicine in most circumstances, and Australia’s regulator has not registered a CBD product for general over-the-counter sale, so consumer hemp gummies containing meaningful CBD levels are not treated the same way they are in the US.
How to act on what you know about International Hemp Product Regulations
- Step 1: Check whether your destination treats CBD as a controlled substance, a novel food, or a restricted medicine, since the category affects whether travelers can legally carry it at all.
- Step 2: Look at your product’s label for its THC content and confirm it is measured on the same basis your destination uses, since a product compliant with the 0.3% US threshold may not meet a different country’s limit.
- Step 3: Contact the destination country’s customs or border agency directly, since airport and postal screening rules for hemp and CBD products can be stricter than general retail rules.
- Step 4: If you’re transiting through a third country, check that country’s rules as well, since a layover can subject you to a stricter jurisdiction’s import laws even if you don’t leave the airport.
- Step 5: When in doubt, leave hemp products at home. A returned or confiscated product is a minor inconvenience compared to the legal risk of carrying a controlled substance across a border.
Points to verify for International Hemp Product Regulations
- Confirm your destination’s THC limit and whether it differs from the US 0.3% standard
- Confirm whether CBD is treated as a food, supplement, medicine, or controlled substance at your destination
- Check the rules of any connecting countries, not just your final destination
- Keep the product in its original, labeled packaging
- Contact the destination’s customs authority before you travel if you have any doubt
- Consider leaving hemp products at home for international travel and buying compliant products locally instead
Situations that need added care with International Hemp Product Regulations
A hemp gummy sold online by an overseas retailer may be formulated and labeled for that country’s rules, not the buyer’s. A product can also be seized at customs even if it was legal to purchase, if it doesn’t meet the destination country’s THC limit or product category rules. Anyone ordering hemp products across borders should check the destination country’s import rules first, not just the seller’s home country’s rules.
Questions studies have not settled about International Hemp Product Regulations
- Hemp and CBD regulations change relatively often in many countries, so figures in this article can become outdated. Always confirm current limits with the relevant government agency before relying on them.
- This article summarizes national-level rules where available. Some countries, including the US and Canada, also allow additional state, provincial, or territorial restrictions that can be stricter than the national baseline.
- This article does not cover every country’s hemp laws and focuses on a few frequently asked-about regions.
Reader questions on International Hemp Product Regulations
Is the 0.3% THC limit the same in every country?
No. The 0.3% threshold is specific to how the US defines legal hemp under the 2018 Farm Bill. Other countries, including the UK, have historically used different cultivation thresholds, and some countries regulate CBD separately from the plant’s THC content altogether.
Can I bring hemp gummies with me when I travel internationally?
It depends entirely on the destination country’s rules, and sometimes on any countries you pass through along the way. Some countries treat CBD as a controlled substance regardless of THC content. Check with the destination’s customs authority before you travel rather than assuming your product qualifies.
Why is CBD treated as legal in the US but restricted in Canada and Australia?
Countries classify CBD differently under their own laws. The US treats hemp-derived CBD under 0.3% THC as outside federal cannabis law, while Canada regulates all CBD as cannabis under the Cannabis Act, and Australia classifies CBD as a Prescription Only Medicine in most circumstances. These are different regulatory choices, not a single global standard.
Does a product’s US compliance mean it’s legal everywhere?
No. A product that meets the US 0.3% THC threshold and is legally sold as a dietary product in some US states is not automatically legal in other countries, since THC limits, product categories, and CBD’s legal status all vary by country.
Educational Disclaimer
This article is general consumer education about how hemp and CBD regulations differ across countries. It is not legal advice and does not confirm the legality of any specific product in any specific country. Hemp and CBD laws change, and enforcement can vary even within a single country. Before traveling with hemp products or ordering them internationally, confirm current rules with the destination country’s customs or health authority, or consult a qualified attorney. See our editorial standards, medical disclaimer, and affiliate disclosure for more on how we cover this topic, or contact us with questions.
This article is for general information purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult your doctor or qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your health routine.