Our History
The origin of the Union of Industry Actors for the Valorisation of Hemp Extracts (UIVEC) started with two observations on the subject of the hemp industry in France:
On one hand, there is France's delay in the sector of various hemp extracts derived from the hemp plant, and primarily cannabidiol. This delay is seen in three areas in particular: regulatory, economic, and representation.
On the other hand, there is a desire, expressed by public authorities, to move forward with the establishment of regulations favourable to the opening of the hemp extract market in France.Since the legal precedent set by the Court of Justice of the European Union in the Kanavape case, French administrations began revising the regulation on hemp and CBD, in order to comply with European legislation and develop French law.
From these revisions, along with contributions from UIVEC, a first step was taken with the publication of the order of December 30, 2021. This order authorises and regulates hemp extracts in France, thus marking the official opening of a promising new sector in France, both economically and ecologically speaking. Since then, there has been the Decision of December 29, 2022, which annulled the banning of hemp flowers and leaves. The Union is continuing to work with authorities on the new decree that fills in any blanks left by this decision.
The Need for Regulation of the Future Market
The market for legal molecules extracted from hemp, and especially the CBD market, is experiencing significant growth internationally, especially in the consumer products sector (cosmetics, human and animal nutrition, etc.). In France, numerous products containing CBD are already being marketed within a sometimes ambiguous regulatory framework, penalising both the many French economic and industrial stakeholders who wish to invest in this sector, as well as consumers for whom neither product quality nor traceability are guaranteed.
This is the main mission of UIVEC: to be a proactive force in developing and sustainably regulating the hemp extract market in France. Most recently, UIVEC worked with the French authorities to establish clear rules for CBD products in France, including CBD food supplements, which can now be declared on the national portal. We continue to have exchanges with the authorities at both the French and European level to establish a specific set of rules and recommendations to ensure product safety and good market growth.