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The European Industrial Hemp Association (EIHA) has elevated Francesco Mirizzi to managing director, positioning the longtime policy advisor to lead the organization through a critical period for hemp regulation in the European Union.
Mirizzi said the months ahead will be pivotal for the industry as regulatory questions remain unresolved across multiple policy areas.
“As the policy landscape evolves, EIHA must stay proactive, informed, and united,” he said. “I look forward to working closely with our members and partners to strengthen our voice and impact in Brussels.”
EU policy expert
A seasoned EU and international lobbying expert, Mirizzi has worked across both public and private sectors, including roles with Pernod Ricard SA and the Puglia Regional administration. In addition to hemp, his sectoral experience includes cotton, flax, wine, spirits, hops, olives, and olive oil.
Mirizzi has expertise in European policy frameworks, including rural development and international bilateral relations. As part of his early career, he completed a traineeship at the European Commission, gaining knowledge on the European Economic Area and the enlargement of the European Free Trade Association.
Mirizzi joined EIHA in 2020 as senior policy advisor after serving two years at Copa-Cogeca, the EU’s largest farmers’ organization.
Clarity, ‘once and for all’
Over the past five years with EIHA, he has taken a lead role in advocacy across core hemp-related policy areas, including feed, food, construction, and the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), all of which are under active review at the EU level.
“In the coming year we will focus on clarifying once and for all the legal status of all parts of hemp, accelerating the Novel Food applications and further increasing awareness of the potential of hemp in the bio-economy sector,” Mirizzi said.
Mirizzi replaces Lorenza Romanese, who served as EIHA managing director for six years.
“}]] The European Industrial Hemp Association (EIHA) has elevated Francesco Mirizzi to managing director, positioning the longtime policy advisor to lead the Read More
