❓ Dr. Walker questions the Minister for Agriculture and Food about the permitted status, import requirements, and potential research funding related to *Trema micratha*, a Brazilian plant producing CBD. The Minister confirms its status, notes import regulations, and points to existing research funding avenues.
AnsweredQoN 669Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
Trema micratha669.Hon Dr Brian Walkerto theMinister for
Agriculture and Food:I refer the minister
to recent publicity around theTrema micrathaplant, a Brazilian shrub of which scientists at the Federal University of Rio
de Janeiro are now confident produces cannabidiol without tetrahydrocannabinol.(1) Can the minister confirm thatTrema micrathais currently a permitted section 11
plant under the WA Organism List, with no control category currently assigned?(2) �Given that permitted organisms must satisfy
any applicable import requirements when imported, what requirements apply to
this shrub should a potential grower wish to import it into WA?(3) Noting the Brazilian research to date, does
the government have any plans to alter the status ofTrema micratha?(4) Given that the Brazilian government has made
research funding available to allow its scientists to engage in further
research on the plant's properties, are there any similar funds for which
interested scientists or growers might apply locally, in the interests of
keeping WA farmers and researchers at the cutting edge of CBD research and, if
so, who should be approached within government in the first instance?The President:I will comment on the length of that
question, honourable member, and hope that it does not happen again, lest your
question be excluded.
Agriculture and Food:I refer the minister
to recent publicity around theTrema micrathaplant, a Brazilian shrub of which scientists at the Federal University of Rio
de Janeiro are now confident produces cannabidiol without tetrahydrocannabinol.(1) Can the minister confirm thatTrema micrathais currently a permitted section 11
plant under the WA Organism List, with no control category currently assigned?(2) �Given that permitted organisms must satisfy
any applicable import requirements when imported, what requirements apply to
this shrub should a potential grower wish to import it into WA?(3) Noting the Brazilian research to date, does
the government have any plans to alter the status ofTrema micratha?(4) Given that the Brazilian government has made
research funding available to allow its scientists to engage in further
research on the plant's properties, are there any similar funds for which
interested scientists or growers might apply locally, in the interests of
keeping WA farmers and researchers at the cutting edge of CBD research and, if
so, who should be approached within government in the first instance?The President:I will comment on the length of that
question, honourable member, and hope that it does not happen again, lest your
question be excluded.
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
10 September 2025
Response time
0 days
Hon Jackie Jarvis replied:I thank the honourable member for some notice of the
question.(1) Yes, noting that the status of an organism
under theBiosecurity and Agricultural Management
Act 2007is based on biosecurity risk.(2) The importation of this plant into Australia
is subject to Commonwealth biosecurity import legislation. Importation of
permitted organisms into Western Australia is subject to import regulations.(3) The Department of Primary Industries and
Regional Development has no plans to alter the plant's WA Organism List status.(4) The Future Health Research and Innovation
Fund, administered by the Office of Medical Research and Innovation within the
Department of Health is the primary mechanism for state-funded medical
research.
Trema micratha
question.(1) Yes, noting that the status of an organism
under theBiosecurity and Agricultural Management
Act 2007is based on biosecurity risk.(2) The importation of this plant into Australia
is subject to Commonwealth biosecurity import legislation. Importation of
permitted organisms into Western Australia is subject to import regulations.(3) The Department of Primary Industries and
Regional Development has no plans to alter the plant's WA Organism List status.(4) The Future Health Research and Innovation
Fund, administered by the Office of Medical Research and Innovation within the
Department of Health is the primary mechanism for state-funded medical
research.
Trema micratha
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