Italy's 2025 hemp flower ban: what it changed for European CBD supply

By Manon, CBD specialist at Deli Hemp Pro

In April 2025, Italy, long seen as the leading player in Europe's CBD industry, adopted a government decree banning the cultivation, processing, possession and sale of hemp flowers, small buds included. The measure stopped Italian production for the 2025 season and shook supply across Europe. This article describes the situation as it stood in July 2025; the Italian rules may have changed since, so check their current status.

What did Italy ban in April 2025?

The decree targeted hemp flowers, which until then had been at the heart of the sector's business. It was announced only a few weeks before the annual harvest, which brought national production to an abrupt halt for the 2025 season. Farmers, distribution platforms, logistics operators and every business that had built the Italian hemp ecosystem were hit directly.

Within days, thousands of cultivated hectares could no longer be sold, freezing an industry that represented several hundred million euros in added value. For companies based in France and other producing countries, the Italian situation became a turning point to watch closely, both for market opportunities and for the direction of regulation.

The consequences for the French CBD market

The halt in Italian flower production immediately put pressure on European supply, including for French players such as Deli Hemp and our network of specialist CBD retailers. Italy had been a central link in the legal hemp supply chain. With it out of action, the market saw:

• higher upstream costs;
• fewer references available;
• more pressure on stock management.

For French distributors, that meant adapting quickly: securing new partners of French or EU origin, planning for longer lead times and keeping the range consistent despite a volatile market. We took the situation very seriously. We strengthened our local supply chains and diversified our sources of small bud CBD flowers. More than ever, a supplier's agility and the strength of B2B relationships matter in a market where European regulation keeps moving.

New sources: CBD flowers from South America

The Italian situation also pushed some companies to look for supply outside Europe. For us, it was the occasion to build partnerships with CBD producers in South America, a region with good growing conditions for hemp. These new partners grow seriously and under supervision, which lets us offer CBD flowers with varied profiles and a good level of quality.

Thanks to them, our retailers could keep offering a stable range despite the tension on the European market, and discover other terroirs at the same time. Part of this selection is listed in our indoor CBD flowers range.

Our flowers comply with French law (delta-9-THC ≤ 0.3%). As the Italian case shows, the status of hemp flower varies from one country to another and can change fast: in the UK it is still contested. Check what you may resell where you trade before ordering.

Small buds back in limited stock in July 2025

In that tight supply context, we were able to bring CBD small buds such as Crystal Amnesia back into our trade stock in July 2025, in limited quantities. The restock came from carefully selected batches and let our partners secure volumes quickly on good terms. With demand high and European stocks still unstable, our sales team worked with each retailer to plan their orders.

Opening a trade account and ordering

To access our trade offers, create an account on our platform for CBD retailers. Registration takes a few minutes from our professional area. Once our team has approved your account, you can see the whole B2B catalogue, with tiered prices, volume discounts and new products before anyone else. The platform is designed to keep buying simple, fast and transparent, with a dedicated sales contact. Whether you run a CBD shop, distribute CBD or belong to a specialist network, you get a clear, competitive offer.

Delivery for CBD professionals

We aim to give CBD professionals reliable, responsive logistics. In France, standard delivery takes 2 to 5 working days, depending on the carrier chosen at checkout, and a 24-hour Chronopost express option is available for urgent orders. Outside France, we ship by Chronopost throughout Europe; shipping costs are calculated by weight and shown in the basket. Careful stock management and a team dedicated to trade orders mean your parcels leave on time.