Restrictions on feeding cannabis to livestock

The Stock Regulation 1988 imposes restrictions on the feeding of cannabis to stock.

Under the Stock Regulation a person is not permitted to feed cannabis to stock or allow stock access to feed on cannabis, unless the cannabis is:

• processed cannabis
• oil extracted from processed cannabis
• meal ground from processed cannabis.

Cannabis

Cannabis for the purpose of these feeding restrictions means:

• the plant Cannabis sativa, whether living or dead
• any part of the plant Cannabis sativa, whether living or dead.

Processed cannabis

Processed cannabis for the purpose of these feeding restrictions means:

• industrial cannabis plants (being cannabis plants with a THC¹ concentration in their leaves and flowering heads of no more than 1%) that have been harvested or chemically treated or mechanically treated or artificially treated in another way and have no leaf, flowers or seed
• seeds from industrial cannabis plants grown by a holder of a grower licence under the Drugs Misuse Act 1986 (DM Act) that have been denatured (treated so they will not grow) either:
  • on the place stated in the grower licence
  • by a person authorised under the Drugs Misuse Regulation 1987 to denature the seed at another place

Industrial cannabis is also known as industrial hemp.

¹ THC is tetrahydrocannabinol, the psycho-active (mind-altering) ingredient in Cannabis sativa produced in specialised glands found primarily in the flowers surrounding the seeds, and to a lesser extent, on the leaf surface of the plant. No THC is found in the seed.

Livestock animals to which the restrictions apply

These feeding restrictions apply to any animal falling within the definition of  stock under the Stock Act 1915, as follows:

• buffalo
• camel
• cattle
• deer
• goat
• horse
• llama
• poultry
• sheep
• swine (pig)
• terrestrial mammal not indigenous to Queensland.

Feeding of cannabis to livestock

The following is a summary of cannabis that a person may feed to livestock or allow livestock to gain access:

• industrial cannabis stems or ground industrial cannabis stems after harvesting or treating industrial cannabis plants² - in other words the plant after all leaves, flowering heads and seeds have been removed
• denatured seed from industrial cannabis plants grown by a licensed grower
• the oil extracted from processed industrial cannabis
• seed meal ground from denatured industrial cannabis seed.

² Industrial cannabis plants are cannabis plants with a THC concentration in their leaves and flowering heads of no more than 1%.

The following is a summary of cannabis that a person must NOT feed to stock or allow stock to gain access:

• any cannabis plant that still has leaves, flowers or seed attached
• failed industrial cannabis crops left in a growing paddock unharvested
• viable cannabis seed capable of producing cannabis plants (seed that has not been denatured).

Reasons for imposing these restrictions

Because THC is a fat-soluble compound and is known to occur in the milk of animals consuming feed that contains THC, it is probable that this compound may also be in the fat of such animals.

It has been decided to impose these feed restrictions as a precautionary measure to give domestic and export consumers of meat, milk and eggs confidence that THC residues are not present.

Detection of THC residues in animals

It is a breach of the Stock Act 1915 for any residue of THC to be detected in the tissues of stock. A detection of a THC residue in stock tissue is known as a residue disease.

Under the Stock Act 1915, the Chief Inspector of Stock may give written directions to the owner of the place where the affected animals are located in order to prevent, control or eradicate the residue disease. Severe penalties exist if any person fails to comply with such directions.

When livestock are being reared near industrial cannabis plants

If you are a licensed grower of industrial cannabis plants and livestock animals are being reared on either your own or your neighbour´s property then reasonable measures must be taken to deny these animals access to your industrial cannabis crop. If necessary fencing should be carried out to make sure livestock cannot accidentally stray into industrial cannabis crops.

Obtaining a copy of the relevant legislation

The information on this page is a guide to help explain the legislative provisions about the restrictions for feeding cannabis to livestock in Queensland. Readers seeking precise legal interpretation need to refer to the actual wording of the legislation by consulting the appropriate sections of both the Stock Regulation 1988 and the Stock Act 1915.

Copies of the Stock Regulation 1988 are available from the Queensland Government Bookshop, which is located on the Ground Floor, Mineral House, 41 George Street, Brisbane Qld 4000 (telephone (07) 3118 6900 within Brisbane or 1800 679 778 outside Brisbane).

For further information on where you can obtain a copy of the relevant legislation visit Queensland Government Publications and the Office of the Queensland Parliamentary Counsel websites (follow the links at the bottom of this page).

The section of the Stock Regulation 1988, which deals specifically with these feeding restrictions, is Division 2 (sections 59A and 59B) of Part 8, Feed restrictions for disease prevention and control.

DPI&F has published an information paper on industrial hemp (industrial cannabis) - follow the link below. The paper addresses a wide range of issues associated with industrial cannabis including, among other things, its agronomy, products and markets, production trends and how to seek a licence to grow industrial cannabis in Queensland.