Sun Pharma slashes Tasmanian poppy production following slump in global demand for pain relief

The reduced need for surgical pain relief during the pandemic has forced Tasmanian poppy processor Sun Pharma to cut its growing area for the coming season.

The multinational, which contracts growers across the state to produce poppies for its factory at Latrobe, has also made two field officers redundant as part of the cuts.

Worldwide demand for opium-based pain relief dropped to an all-time low last…