The South Australian government has called for community feedback on proposals to legalise limited poppy production by selected farmers.
Draft regulations have been prepared with farmers previously asked to lodge expressions of interest.
The government will now take community responses to those regulations until June 17, with a view to having the first crops produced as early as next year.
"The proposed framework provides suitable checks and balances to ensure the safe cultivation and processing of opium poppies as a potential new industry for the state's vital agriculture sector," Biosecurity SA chief Will Zacharin said.
"The purpose of this latest consultation is to gauge the appropriateness of the proposed framework across the whole agricultural community, not just those registered farmers.
SA's proposed regulations include licensing of poppy cultivation and processing, inspection and enforcement provisions and provisions for the ongoing management and administration of the sector.
To grow poppies farmers would also need to sign a contract with a licensed poppy processor, undertake SA police checks and ensure their crops are protected against misuse.
Poppies grown in SA would be used in the production of legal drugs including pain killers and anaesthetics.
Australia is currently a world leader in the production and export of opiates, accounting for about 50 per cent used in pharmaceutical manufacturing.
Poppy production is currently legal in Tasmania, Victoria and the Northern Territory.
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