Bureaucratic hurdles strangling the potential of the US hemp industry

The US Hemp Feed Coalition has expressed frustration over what it perceives as unnecessary and costly holdups in US federal review of hemp feed ingredients. The non-profit organization was reacting to a letter​​ last month from the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), among others, calling on US state leaders and lawmakers to support scientific research to ensure the safety of hemp as an animal-feed ingredient prior to any federal or state approval. In February 2021, HFC submitted​​ the first hemp feed ingredient application utilizing hemp seed meal as a feed ingredient for laying hens, for review by AAFCO and the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM). Hemp seed meal is the by-product of the seed after the oil has been extruded and is a highly nutritious protein supplement, said the group. The results of a study supporting the application showed no cannabinoid transference, safety concerns, or impact on the hens or the eggs, it added. It reported, however, ...