COMMI SSION REGUL ATION (EU) 2022/1393 
of 11 August 2022
amending Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 as regards maximum levels of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol 
(Δ9-THC) in hemp seeds and products derived therefrom 
(Text with EEA relevance) 
THE EUR OPEAN COMMISSION,
Havi ng regar d to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Havi ng regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 315/93 of 8 Febr uary 1993 laying down Community procedures for 
contaminants in food (1), and in particular Article 2(3) thereof,
Whereas:
(1) Commission Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 (2)sets maximum levels for certain contaminants in foodstuffs.
(2) In 2015, the European Food Safety Author ity (‘the Author ity’) Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain adopt ed a 
scientific opinion on the risks to human health relat ed to the presence of tetrah ydrocannabinol (THC) in milk and 
other food of animal origin (3). THC, more precisely Δ9-THC, is the most relevant constituent of the hemp plant 
Cannabis sativa. The Authority established an acute reference dose (ARfD) of 1 μg Δ9-THC/kg body weight (bw).
(3) In order to obtain more data on the presence of Δ9-THC and other relevant non-psy cho-active precursors in hem p- 
derived foods and foods containing hemp or hem p-der ived ingredients, Commission Recommendation (EU) 
2016/2115 (4)was adopt ed.
(4) On 7 Januar y 2020 , the Auth ority published a scientific repor t assessing acute human exposure to Δ9-THC (5), taking 
into account the occur rence data generated through Recommendation (EU) 2016/2115. The ARfD of 1 μg/kg bw 
was excee ded in certain acute exposure estimate s. Although the exposure estimates are expecte d to overestimat e 
acute exposure to Δ9-THC in the Union, the current exposure to Δ9-THC is a poten tial health concer n.
(5) Maximum levels should theref ore be set in hem p seeds and hem p seed derived products to ensure a high level of 
human health prote ction. Since delta-9-tetrah ydrocannabinolic acid (Δ9-THCA) can be conver ted into Δ9-THC 
through processing, the maximum levels should be set for the sum of Δ9-THC and Δ9-THCA, expressed in Δ9-THC 
equivalents.
(6) Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 should theref ore be amended according ly.
(7) To enable economic operat ors to prepare for the new rules introduced by this Regulation, it is appropr iate to provid e 
for a reasonable time until the maximum levels apply . It is also appropr iate to provi de for a transitional period for 
foodstuffs lawfully placed on the market before the date of application of this Regulation.
(8) The measures provid ed for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committ ee on 
Plants, Animals, Food and Feed,
(1)OJ L 37, 13.2.1993, p. 1.
(2)Commission Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 of 19 December 2006 setting maximum levels for certain contaminants in foodstuffs 
(OJ L 364, 20.12.2006, p. 5).
(3)European Food Safety Author ity (EFSA) Jour nal 2015;13(6):4141
(4)Commission Recommendation (EU) 2016/2115 of 1 December 2016 on the monit oring of the presence of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol, 
its precursors and other cannabinoids in food (OJ L 327, 2.12.2016, p. 103).
(5)EFSA (European Food Safet y Autho rity), Arcella D, Cascio C and Mack ay K, 2020. Acute human exposure assessment to tetrah ydro ­
cannabinol (Δ9-THC). EFSA Jour nal 2020;18(1):5953, 41 pp. https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2020.5953EN Offi cial Jour nal of the European Union 12.8.2022 L 211/83  HAS ADOPTED THIS REGUL ATION:
Article 1
The Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 is amended in accordance with the Annex to this Regulation.
Article 2
Foodstuffs listed in the Annex, lawfully placed on the mark et before 1 Januar y 2023 , may remain on the market until their 
date of minimum durability or use-by date.
Article 3
This Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day followi ng that of its publication in the Official Journal of the 
European Union.
It shall apply from 1 Januar y 2023 .
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.
Done at Brussels, 11 August 2022 .
For the Commission
The President
Ursula VON DER LEYENEN Offi cial Jour nal of the European Union L 211/84 12.8.2022  ANNEX 
In Section 8 of the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006, the followi ng entr y 8.6 is added:
Foodstuffs Maximum level (mg/kg)
‘8.6. Delta-9 -tetrah ydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) equivalents (*)
8.6.1. Hem p seeds 3,0
8.6.2. Ground hemp seeds, (par tially) defatt ed hem p seed and other hem p seed derived/ 
processed products (**) with the excep tion of the products referred to in 8.6.3.3,0
8.6.3. Hem p seed oil 7,5
(*) the maximum level refers to the sum of delta-9-tetrah ydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) and delta-9-tetrah ydrocannabinolic acid (Δ9-THCA), 
expressed as Δ9-THC. A factor of 0,877 is applied to the level of Δ9-THCA and the maximum level refers to the sum of Δ9- 
THC + 0,877 x Δ9-THCA (in case of a separate determination and quantification of Δ9-THC and Δ9-THCA).
(**) hemp seed derived/processed products are products derived/processed exclusively from hemp seeds.’EN Offi cial Jour nal of the European Union 12.8.2022 L 211/85