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NIHC is the premier leader in advancing the international marketing of the U.S. industrial hemp industry

NIHC Secures RAPP Funding

Cementing Leadership in International Hemp Marketing

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19, 2024—The National Industrial Hemp Council (NIHC) is pleased to announce it has secured an additional $1.25 million in funding through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Regional Agricultural Promotion Program (RAPP). This significant achievement builds on the $745,000 awarded earlier this year and positions NIHC as the premier leader in advancing the international marketing of U.S. industrial hemp.

“This funding is a game-changer for the U.S. hemp industry,” said NIHC President and CEO Patrick Atagi. “With the continued support of the USDA, we can sustain and expand our efforts to promote American hemp as a world-class, sustainable commodity. This recognition highlights hemp’s rightful place among the top U.S. agricultural exports, on par with other key commodities.”

Atagi thanked the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) for their recognition and support. “USDA’s commitment to bolstering U.S. agricultural exports has been instrumental in creating opportunities for emerging industries like hemp,” he said. “FAS has been a steadfast partner in helping us grow the international footprint of the U.S. hemp industry.” Atagi also thanks the many supporters who took the time to write letters of support for the NIHC funding. “We could not do our work without those in the industry supporting what we do. Your efforts made a decisive difference in the process.”

Launched in October, the USDA’s $1.2 billion RAPP program is designed to boost U.S. agricultural exports in high-potential international markets, with a focus on regions like South and Southeast Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean. This latest funding allows NIHC to build on the success of its previous initiatives, which included leading delegations to the Tokyo Hemp Conference and the Asia Hemp Expo and Forum in Thailand.

The additional funding will ensure the continuation of NIHC’s critical work in 2025 and beyond, further positioning U.S. industrial hemp as a high-quality, reliable and sustainable commodity for global markets. With a strong foundation established through prior efforts, NIHC will continue to:

  • Lead trade delegations to key markets to foster partnerships and secure sales opportunities for U.S. hemp products.
  • Expand the reach of the NIHC Verify program, which enforces strict product testing standards and promotes consumer confidence worldwide.
  • Advocate for hemp’s inclusion in key agricultural commodity discussions internationally.

With this new round of funding, NIHC will focus on strengthening partnerships across Asia and Africa, regions identified as having high consumer demand and market growth potential. The continued collaboration with the USDA underscores the vital role hemp plays in diversifying U.S. agricultural exports and promoting sustainability.

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About the National Industrial Hemp Council

The National Industrial Hemp Council (NIHC) is the leading global advocate for the sustainable growth and profitability of industrial hemp. Based in Washington, D.C., NIHC’s membership includes growers, processors, sellers, and laboratories. The organization is committed to advancing the hemp industry through advocacy, international development, and programs like the exclusive NIHC Verify initiative, which upholds rigorous testing standards and promotes product safety. For more information about NIHC and its programs visit www.NIHCoa.com

 

NIHC Statement on the Election of Donald J. Trump

Washington, D.C. Nov. 6, 2024– National Industrial Hemp Council (NIHC) President and CEO, Patrick Atagi, released the following statement on the results of the 2024 election.

“NIHC congratulates President-elect Donald J. Trump on his historic victory and strong performance among hemp interests from farm to consumers.

“This election represents a renewed opportunity for all Americans to work together and to commit ourselves to the American dream – life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness, and prosperity. We have collaborated with President-elect Trump during his previous time in office to enact historic wins for the multi-billion-dollar hemp industry to drive increased investment in the sector, create jobs and provide for American farmers and manufacturers across the country. We stand ready to get to work to address the policies in the Farm Bill and agencies which will define the legacy of the Trump administration, including.

Use all tools available to remove improper trade barriers against Agriculture and industrial hemp. The USDA should work closely with the Office of the United States Trade Representative to remove improper barriers imposed by other countries to block U.S. agricultural goods.

Eliminate federal regulations and directives that hinder or stop the export of American hemp products to international markets. Initiate a tariff on Chinese hemp products that come into the United States.

Support of “Fit for Purpose” program of oversight for hemp farmers so that they may farm hemp without undue government restrictions. Mandate accredited and certified laboratories to test hemp and hemp products to expand the number of laboratories that can test hemp and hemp products and accepted by the Federal government. (Currently only Drug Enforcement Agency labs are eligible.).

“The 2018 Farm Bill was ‘starter fluid’ that ignited the rockets for hemp to take-off in the United States. The legislation increased wages, helped hire Americans and make tremendous investments in our businesses and communities giving us the certainty we needed to kickstart the hemp renaissance we have seen in recent years. Efforts to gain a global footing, provide American farmers with another commodity, reduce technical barriers to trade and leverage private and public sector resources to bolster manufacturing projects helped make the US a force globally and provide needed resources for allies around the world.

“However, we are facing historic storms on our meteoric journey today. Sector optimism is at its lowest level in years. The cost of Federal regulatory burdens continues to increase and severely hinder the industry. From onerous FDA regulations to misunderstanding of hemp regulations, and aggressive agency overreach, the policies of today are keeping ingenuity, know-how and shovel ready farmers from doing what they do best, farm. We believe that we can build on the successes of our previous work together to roll back burdensome regulations, unleash American grit and drive the economy of the future with a strong strategy developed by farmers, manufacturers, and retailers to make American hemp work.

“Elections by their nature are divisive but their results should lead to unity. As we approach this country’s 250th anniversary, the time is now to work together, trust each other and support the ideals and laws outlined in our constitution—with a faith born not of words but of deeds that we see every day on farms, rural America and cities across our country.”

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For more information, contact info@hempindustrial.com

 

NIHC Leads U.S. Delegation to Tokyo International Hemp Conference

Washington, D.C., Sept. 9, 2024—The National Industrial Hemp Council (NIHC) is spearheading a delegation of 26 U.S. hemp industry leaders, companies, and academic institutions to the first-ever Tokyo International Hemp Conference, scheduled to take place from Sept. 24 to 26. Sponsored by the Japan Industrial Hemp Association (JIHA), this landmark event represents a pivotal moment for the global hemp industry, focusing on the future of hemp and cannabinoid-related science and industry.

Thanks to a competitive grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Regional Agricultural Promotion Program (RAPP), the NIHC delegation will engage in a variety of activities, including exhibitions, embassy meetings, international business networking, and field tours of Japan’s Golden Hemp farms.

“The Tokyo International Hemp Conference marks a new chapter in international collaboration and innovation within the hemp industry,” said NIHC President & CEO Patrick Atagi. “We are excited to lead this diverse group of U.S. delegates to Tokyo, showcasing American leadership in hemp science and innovation, while also fostering partnerships that advance the industry globally.”

The conference, which emphasizes Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), will bring together experts from around the world to discuss cutting-edge research on the industrial and medical applications of hemp and cannabinoids. Notable participants include the European Industrial Hemp Association (EIHA), the Alliance of European Flax-Linen & Hemp Federation, and the Thai Industrial Hemp Trade Association (TIHTA). U.S. industry leaders and representatives will contribute to panels and discussions on topics including the current state and future outlook of the hemp industry in the United States.

The Tokyo International Hemp Conference aims to foster greater international cooperation in the rapidly expanding hemp industry, highlighting both cultural and economic opportunities. Hemp has deep historical significance in Japan, where it has been used for over 10,000 years in traditional medicine and sacred rituals. Today, hemp and CBD are legally regulated, and Japan’s Golden Hemp, a high-value fiber used in ceremonial practices, represents a growing market for collaboration.

The U.S. delegation is composed of key industry players including HempWood, INDHemp, Oregon State University’s Global Hemp Innovation Center, FyberX, Bear Fiber, Kentucky Hemp Farmers Cooperative, NIHC including President & CEO Patrick Atagi who is also representing the USDA Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee on Tobacco, Cotton, Peanuts and Hemp along with Mike Klumpf with Marvel Agriculture in Michigan. 

For more information, follow NIHC updates on social media using #NIHCJapan2024 or visit the event website for details.

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For more information, please contact us at info@hempindustrial.com

In Historic Move NIHC Designated as a Cooperator in the
USDA FAS Market Access Program

Awarded 2024 Market Access Program Funding

WASHINGTON, Jan. 26, 2024—The National Industrial Hemp Council (NIHC) is pleased to announce it has achieved cooperator status in the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) Market Access Program (MAP), Hemp now joins over +75 commodities and specialty crops as a named partner of the program. This puts hemp on par with cotton, wheat, grain and tree fruits to name a few of the participants in the program.

“Since the 2018 Farm Bill re-legalized hemp cultivation in the U.S., the industry has experienced remarkable overall growth globally,” said NIHC President & CEO Patrick Atagi. “We thank the USDA FAS for designating NIHC as a cooperator, which reflects NIHC’s commitment to promoting U.S. hemp and the important economic impact that it contributes to the U.S. economy and agricultural communities around the world.”

The MAP initiative helps create, expand and maintain long-term export markets for U.S. agricultural products. Under the program, FAS partners with U.S. non-profit commodity or trade associations (cooperators) to promote U.S. agricultural products overseas. Preference is given to organizations that represent an entire industry or are nationwide in membership and scope and have the infrastructure to run the program.

NIHC has been awarded over $200,000 to help further build global recognition of U.S. industrial hemp and downstream products in 2024. This marks the fourth continuous year of funding from the USDA MAP and the first as a full cooperator.  As a direct cooperator, NIHC can now optimally use government funding and private sector contributions to promote the sustainable growth of the industry internationally. It also opens the doors for other government funding opportunities.

“Over the years we have seen the tremendous impact both MAP and FMD (Foreign Market Development) have on expanding U.S. exports to markets across the globe,” said FAS Administrator Daniel B. Whitley in the USDA announcement. “For each $1 invested in export market development, U.S. agricultural exports have increased by more than $24. These programs provide a significant boost to the U.S. agricultural industry, which in turn helps strengthen the economy not just in rural communities, but across the entire United States.”

Atagi explained that in 2023, NIHC aggressively promoted U.S. industrial hemp at international government-level meetings, global trade shows and media events such as the 2023 Global Asian Hemp Expo.

Contact: Info@hempindustrial.com

NIHC is a global advocate for the sustainable and long-term growth and profitability of industrial hemp. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., NIHC membership includes growers, sellers and laboratories. NIHC conducts advocacy, international development and consumer programs, including the exclusive NIHC Verify program that supports NIHC’s mission to promote testing transparency, standards requirements, consumer confidence, and ultimately product safety. NIHC Verify requires products to be tested in a lab that has passed a Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) certification audit. To learn more visit www.NIHCoa.com

The National Industrial Hemp Council of America (NIHC) accepts A2LA ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation for entry into the A2LA-NIHC Verify Joint Hemp/Cannabis Recognition Program as part of their approval process for their NIHC Verify program for hemp testing laboratories. This program allows the hemp testing laboratories that are ISO/IEC 17025 A2LA Accredited and NIHC members to be recognized under
the NIHC Verify program.

The A2LA-NIHC Verify Joint Hemp/Cannabis Recognition Program requires the applicant laboratory to adhere to the requirements applicable in A2LA R101 – General requirements for accreditation of ISO/IEC 17025 laboratories and A2LA normative documents R103, R105, and P102.

The goal of A2LA-NIHC Verify Joint Hemp/Cannabis Recognition Program is to promote testing transparency, standards requirements, consumer confidence, and ultimately product safety.

This program was developed to establish a benchmark for hemp testing laboratories that are accredited to conduct the following testing (at a minimum):

  • Pesticides
  • Heavy Metals
  • Potency
  • Microbiology
  • Residual Solvents

This program is covered by the A2LA chemical and biological fields of testing.

Program Requirements
ISO/IEC 17025 General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories
Specific Requirements – A2LA-NIHC Verify Joint/Hemp Cannabis Recognition Program

Please contact A2LA for more information on this accreditation at: agouker@A2LA.org

ENDORSED BY INDUSTRY LEADERS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

U.S. Hemp Leaders Unite on Plan of Action as Deliberations Over 2023 Farm Bill Approach Key industry stakeholders convened at the NoCo9 Hemp Expo in March to finalize a policy document that 31 nonprofit organizations have now signed.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 24, 2023) – As the 2023 Farm Bill deliberations approach, U.S. hemp leaders are united behind a plan of action. And this unprecedented alliance among 31 nonprofit hemp organizations portends promise for congressional enactment of the industry’s agenda.

This winter, three of the nation’s leading hemp organizations – Hemp Industries Association (HIA), National Industrial Hemp Council (NIHC) and U.S. Hemp Roundtable (USHR) – joined in collaboration for the very first time to develop a series of policy priorities for enactment in the 2023 Farm Bill. The three groups then asked industry leader Morris Beegle to convene a meeting of more than 75 key hemp stakeholders at the leading national hemp gathering that he produces, the NoCo Hemp Expo. After an intense discussion, and follow-up breakout groups to expound on the deliberations, a priority policy document was finalized. Since then, 31 state, regional and national nonprofit organizations have signed on in support.

The document lists nine key policy priorities for consideration by Congress. These include requiring increase USDA funding for hemp internationally and domestically, FDA to regulate hemp extracts such as CBD; easing the regulatory burden on hemp farmers; repealing the hemp felon ban from the 2018 Farm Bill; and addressing THC limits for hemp. This document is being shared with key members of Congress and will serve as the foundation for drafting legislative language to be included in the Farm Bill.

NIHC President and CEO Patrick Atagi praised the work of the hemp industry for broadly coming together to endorse hemp priorities and hemp-specific Farm Bill priorities. “’Working Together Works’ are true words taught to me by my mentor, former USDA Undersecretary William ‘Bill’ Hawks,” Atagi said. “I am glad to see the hemp industry come together; it is a sign of great things to come.”

“This is an historic moment for hemp,” stated Jonathan Miller, USHR’s General Counsel. “The five years since legalization have been challenging, and the 2023 Farm Bill is our next and best opportunity to take this industry a step forward. The unity within the industry is remarkable and telling: Our shared voice will resonate with Congress and help us turn this opportunity into meaningful progress for hemp farmers and product consumers.”

Said Morris Beegle, co-founder and president of We Are For Better Alternatives, or WAFBA: “The last five years have taught us a lot, and more than anything, that we as stakeholders need to align our interests and our voices going into the 2023 Farm Bill so that we correct the regulatory deficiencies that have plagued the growth and development of this nascent industry. I’m optimistic and encouraged by so many organizations coming together at this time to collaborate and work in unison to improve the future of the hemp industry.”

Dear Chairwoman Stabenow and Ranking Member Boozman:
On behalf of our members nationwide, the National Industrial Hemp Council of America (NIHC) offers its recommendations, enclosed with this letter, for incorporation in the 2023 Farm Bill toward ensuring the viability and global competitiveness of U.S. domestic hemp production. The 2018 Farm Bill re-legalized the production of hemp, and before that, the 2014 Farm Bill authorized its research, but these new authorities have fallen short in enabling hemp to develop as a commodity at a significant scale. As Congress takes up our nation’s next Farm Bill, the time has come to apply the many lessons learned over the past decade and resolve these shortcomings.

Few if any crops have ever presented such a wide range of uses as hemp. Integral to human civilizations for millennia, and with countless innovative applications emerging at a dizzying pace, hemp produces high-protein foods and feeds from its seeds; wide-ranging industrial applications from its stalks, including textiles, paper, bioplastics, building materials, renewable energy, and advanced composites; and wellness products in high demand by consumers worldwide. Grown at scale, hemp offers an unparalleled opportunity for climate-smart agriculture, resilient rural economies, and increased domestic self-reliance in food security and manufacturing. But despite the best efforts by regulators and industry stakeholders, shortcomings in Federal law continue to squander these opportunities and portend hemp’s demise as a U.S. commodity if not resolved in the next Farm Bill. NIHC’s recommendations are aimed at avoiding such an outcome.

NIHC is the hemp industry’s DC-based trade association. We serve our members and the industry at large by integrating our industry’s expanding expertise with senior-level agricultural policy practice to deliver credible analysis and coordination on the full range of legislative, budgetary and regulatory matters impacting the hemp value chain. Headed by former USDA executives, senior Hill staffers and agricultural trade association leaders, we focus on building capacity for farmers, businesses, regulators and consumers across all segments of the hemp industry, to fulfill hemp’s promise as a keystone of American agriculture and as a driver of opportunity for all.

The 2018 Farm Bill re-legalized the production of hemp, and before that the 2014 Farm Bill authorized its research, but these new authorities have fallen short in enabling hemp to develop as a commodity at significant scale. As Congress takes up our nation’s next Farm Bill, the time has come to apply the many lessons learned over the past decade and resolve these shortcomings. Few if any crops have ever presented such a wide range of uses as hemp. Integral to human civilizations for millennia, and with countless innovative applications emerging at a dizzying pace, hemp produces high protein foods and feeds from its seeds; wide-ranging industrial applications from its stalks, including textiles, paper, bioplastics, building materials, renewable energy, and advanced composites; and wellness products in high demand by consumers worldwide. Grown at scale, hemp offers unparalleled opportunity for climate-smart agriculture, resilient rural economies, and increased domestic self-reliance in food security and manufacturing.

But despite the best efforts by regulators and industry stakeholders, shortcomings in Federal law continue to squander these opportunities and portend hemp’s demise as a U.S. commodity if not resolved in the next Farm Bill. With that decade of lessons in mind, and with the goal of unfettering this new yet ancient crop to fulfill its promise for American agriculture, the National Industrial Hemp Council offers the following recommendations for inclusion in the next Farm Bill:

1. FIT-FOR-PURPOSE COMPLIANCE TESTING.

  • Dual hemp licensing: Differentiate “Industrial” (fiber and grain) from “Horticultural” (flower).
  • Test products at point of transfer/sale: Consistent USDA controls on lawful transfer of hemp.
  • Performance-based sampling for “Industrial,” pre-harvest testing for “Horticultural:”. Visual inspection of “Industrial” and statistically valid pre-harvest testing of “Horticultural.”
  • Adopt the NASDA-recommended threshold of 1% total concentration of all tetrahydrocannabinols, to relieve farmers of undue risk and avoid false findings of non-compliance.
  • Permanently remove requirements for DEA certification of hemp testing labs.

2. EQUITY AND OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL IN DOMESTIC HEMP PRODUCTION.

  • Eliminate background checks and remove felon ban for hemp farming.
  • Prohibit the re-criminalization of hemp.
  • Designate hemp seed and hempseed by-products as feed for non-consumption animals.
  • Enact “Safe Banking” for hemp.

3. NORMALIZE HEMP IN USDA RESEARCH AND SUPPORT PROGRAMS.

  • Permanently dual-designate hemp as both specialty and commodity crop depending on the purpose for which it is grown.
  • Direct USDA to include hemp in all subsidy and grant opportunities for which other commodity and specialty crops qualify, including research programs.
  • Permanently authorize hemp as eligible feedstock for renewable energy research and support.
  • Ensure USDA has access to adequate funding to administer hemp production in all 50 states;
  • Increase USDA FAS MAP and FMD funding to increase promotion of US hemp exports.
  • Establish and fund US Hemp Fiber Standards and Quality Act to create an ARS hemp structure and research center similar to the Cotton Structure and Quality Research Unit in New Orleans.
  • Authorize and fund a properly staffed, USDA-led inter-departmental hemp working group and FACA committee that includes multiple agencies and a cross-section of hemp industry stakeholders.

1. FIT-FOR-PURPOSE COMPLIANCE TESTING.

One of the greatest hindrances to hemp production in the United States is the protocol for THC compliance testing. Though hemp has been produced overwhelmingly throughout its multi-millennial history for products of its seeds (grain) and stalks (fiber), which are biologically incapable of producing THC or any other cannabinoid, U.S. law currently requires THC testing of all hemp crops, including those grown for fiber and grain, but does not require testing of hemp products. This is the case even though THC levels can fluctuate slightly in all hemp crops due to conditions beyond farmers’ control, whereas finished products can be specially formulated in a controlled setting to contain specified amounts of THC and synthetic analogs. Thus, the current approach to hemp compliance testing carries undue risk to farmers, which has a chilling effect on farmer adoption and investment (particularly in fiber and grain), while having little bearing on the amount of THC in products entering the hemp market. Ideally, hemp should be treated like any other agricultural commodity and not subjected to compliance testing of crops in the field, but rather tested and certified as needed when the resulting products enter commerce, just like dairy, meat and cotton.

Nevertheless, NIHC recognizes that hemp, as a type of cannabis, elicits a range of stakeholder concerns that are heightened by its cultivation–especially horticultural cultivation of hemp for CBD production, which is difficult to distinguish from cultivation of marijuana. For this reason we propose to differentiate testing of crops grown for fiber and grain (“Industrial Hemp”) from testing of crops grown for flower and their cannabinoids (“Horticultural Hemp”), while establishing meaningful protocols for testing of hemp products upon entering commerce:

A. Fit-for-purpose hemp licensing – Differentiate “Industrial Hemp” (fiber and grain production) and “Horticultural Hemp” (flower/cannabinoid-only production):

Direct USDA to develop regulations for issuing two license types nationwide; states can opt out of dual licensing and authorize only one or the other. Industrial Hemp: fiber and grain crops and products thereof, grown only outdoors (broadacre); USDA to define quantitative criteria, such as plant density, in rulemaking. Horticultural Hemp: flower crops, nursery stock and products thereof. Any hemp crop not meeting Industrial Hemp criteria is Horticultural Hemp. Include a research sub-license type for companies that are developing and producing seeds for replanting purposes.

B. Fit-for-purpose testing of hemp products at point of transfer/sale: Direct USDA to develop regulations for consistent nationwide controls on lawful transfer of hemp products: ‘Industrial Hemp License:’ (verifying that crop is from licensed producer) must accompany all transfers regardless of type—industrial or horticultural. ‘USDA-Compliant Hemp Certificate:’ (establishing THC compliance, similar to how USDA certifies dairy, meat, etc.) must accompany all transfers containing flower or flower derivatives, regardless of license type—industrial or horticultural. ‘USDA Hemp Processor License:’ must accompany in-process flower derivatives (concentrates) that exceed the Federal threshold for THC in hemp; not for retail sale, and lawful for possession and transfer only by holders of the USDA Hemp Processor License.

C. Fit-for-purpose performance-based sampling and testing of hemp crops. Direct USDA to apply statistically valid testing of horticultural hemp crops to ensure against illicit marijuana production, and to apply its existing performance-based sampling authority nationally for industrial hemp crops: Performance-Based Sampling for Industrial Hemp crops: Direct USDA to apply its existing authority for performance-based sampling nationwide, with visual inspection criteria for Industrial Hemp Pre-Harvest Sampling and Testing for Horticultural Hemp crops: Direct USDA to update its existing pre-harvest sampling and testing regulations to ensure that compliance determinations are made based on statistically valid confidence intervals (margins of error) for estimated THC levels, accounting for in-field sampling variance as well as laboratory measurement uncertainty. Performance-Based Sampling Option for Horticultural Hemp crops: Direct USDA to standardize it existing authority for performance-based sampling as an available alternative to pre-harvest sampling and testing for horticultural licensees based on 3 prior years of compliant tests, and for immature nursery stock. Fund research to determine potential applicability of variety/seed certifications for use in performance-based sampling.

D. Adopt the NASDA-recommended threshold of 1% total concentration of all tetrahydrocannabinols, to relieve farmers of undue risk and avoid false findings of non-compliance. Another major factor causing compliance testing to be a hindrance is the definition of hemp as provided in the 2018 Farm Bill, which is based on a 0.3% delta-9 THC threshold for compliance. The originators of this 0.3% figure explicitly acknowledged it as arbitrary in the peer-reviewed scientific literature where it first appeared (Small and Cronquist, 1976), and reiterated this acknowledgment in public statements in 2021 while further recommending 1% as a more appropriate threshold. The current definition also does nothing to limit the entry into the hemp market of products containing other intoxicating tetrahydrocannabinols besides delta-9. Finally, the natural range of variation of hemp plants in the field makes it problematic at best to determine non-compliance with statistical validity at such a minuscule quantity. If challenged in court, the overwhelming majority of non-compliance determinations made under the existing definition would likely not meet the minimal burden of proof for sanctioning private property as required by the Administrative Procedures Act. To rectify these problems, NIHC supports the resolution adopted by the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, by a 45-3 vote, to revise the definition as follows: The term “hemp” means the plant Cannabis sativa L. and any part of that plant, including the seeds thereof and all derivatives, extracts, cannabinoids, isomers, acids, salts, and salts of isomers, whether growing or not, with a total tetrahydrocannabinol concentration of not more than one (1) percent on a dry weight basis.

E. Permanently remove requirements for DEA certification of hemp testing labs. Since promulgating its regulations implementing 2018 Farm Bill direction for domestic hemp production, which includes this provision, USDA has wisely exercised its administrative discretion to suspend this requirement every year, lest it hobble the industry for lack of sufficient DEA-certified laboratory capacity around the country. Labs with USDA-approved accreditations, which can be found in greater abundance around the country and also newly established at lower cost, can be relied upon to provide adequate verification of THC levels for determining compliance. Congress should thus eliminate the DEA certification requirement in favor of this approach.

2. EQUITY AND OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL IN DOMESTIC HEMP PRODUCTION.

A. Eliminate background checks and remove felon ban for hemp farming. No other agricultural commodity requires such a policy, which most impacts rural and underserved communities, reinstitutionalizes the racial injustices of the War on Drugs, and harkens to the long history of racial discrimination in American agriculture that USDA and the nation at large still struggles to overcome. Such restrictions should not be permitted in Federal or State law. Furthermore, farming is a productive pathway for people convicted of felonies to re-engage in their communities. No correlation has been shown to indicate that former felons are any likelier to commit crimes in connection with hemp farming than in connection with farming of any other crop.

B. Prohibit the re-criminalization of hemp. As with the discriminatory undertones of banning felons and requiring background checks for hemp licensing, numerous efforts are underway at the state level that portend to restrict interstate commerce in Federally lawful hemp and hemp products, and in some cases even to outlaw their possession. While States have the prerogative to regulate sales that take place within their borders, current law prohibits States and Tribes from impeding the transport of Federally lawful hemp in interstate commerce, and this should be amended to prohibit impeding the possession of Federally lawful hemp as well. Otherwise, injustices that remain prevalent in narcotics enforcement may extend into a substance whose legality is fully ensconced in Federal law.

C. Designate hemp seed and hempseed by-products as animal feed for pets, specialty and exotic pets, and horses. Just like other commodity crops that serve the protein and oil feed markets, hemp seed based ingredients should be excluded from the 1958 Food Additive Petition requirements. The exclusion should be limited to ingredients that are: sourced from only from hemp seed harvested from Federally compliant crops; are for non-consumption species (companion, exotic, equine, and any other non-consumption animals); possess no added cannabinoids; and comply with existing animal feed manufacturing processes, labeling requirements, and product registrations. Additionally, timelines for applications to the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) should be shortened: FDA responses should be required within 60 days of submitting initial and each subsequent response, and final decisions should be required within a maximum of two years. Budgetary support should be granted to the FDA-CVM to meet these obligations.

D. Enact “Safe Banking” for hemp. Amid fitful efforts to normalize banking for cannabis businesses despite the continuing prohibition of marijuana under Federal law, the hemp industry—especially small businesses and enterprises in rural and underserved communities—continues to suffer from the same lack of access to banking, advertising, and other essential business services. Despite the Federally legal status of the products they sell, hemp businesses are forced to pay onerous fees for these essential services; if indeed they can even access them at all. Payment processors, lenders, investors, media outlets and other service providers need to know that they are protected against the possibility of sanctions for serving businesses that engage in hemp commerce; no other agricultural commodity faces such difficulties and the Farm Bill is an appropriate vehicle to rectify this problem.

3. NORMALIZE HEMP IN USDA RESEARCH AND SUPPORT PROGRAMS.

  • Make permanent Congress’s FY22 budget direction to USDA to dual-designate hemp as both specialty and commodity crop depending on the purpose for which it is grown.
  • Direct USDA to include hemp in subsidy and grant opportunities for which other commodity and specialty crops qualify, including research programs.
  • Permanently authorize hemp as an eligible feedstock for renewable energy research and support.
  • Ensure USDA has access to adequate funding to administer hemp production in all 50 states in the event more States terminate their hemp programs (in favor of USDA’s improved hemp regulations).
  • Increase USDA FAS MAP and FMD funding to increase promotion of US hemp exports in order for the Market Access Program and Foreign Market Development Program to more adequately promote the global competitiveness of U.S. hemp.
  • Establish and fund US Hemp Fiber Standards and Quality Act to create a USDA ARS hemp structure and research center similar to the current USDA-ARS Cotton Structure and Quality Research Unit in New Orleans,
  • Authorize and fund a properly staffed, USDA-led inter-departmental hemp working group and FACA committee that includes multiple agencies, departments and a representative cross-section of hemp industry stakeholders, chartered to advise on rulemaking, regulatory implementation, support programs and trade issues within USDA and other Departments.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Industrial Hemp Council of America (NIHC) released the following statement responding to a limited German study indicating that dairy cows fed hemp silage showed adverse effects:

“We strongly believe that decisions about the use of hemp animal feed should be soundly based on science that studies the effects of hemp feed in animal diets and on their well-being.

“It’s important to recognize that what is being reported on is not an animal feed trial conducted by animal scientists who assessed nutritional aspects of hemp-based animal feed. Rather, this trial was conducted by risk analysts assessing the impact of cannabinoids from both low and artificially high-THC hemp.

“Perhaps the most important point to make with regard to food safety and animal welfare is that the study says multiple times that no adverse effects in behavior were observed in animals fed low-THC hemp silage. The sensationalist headlines from this trial are misguided and wrong.

“We understand and share the concerns about cannabinoids entering the nation’s food supply. However, we believe it’s important to clarify that hemp animal feed is made from the plant’s seeds and stalks, which are biologically incapable of producing any cannabinoids, unlike the hemp biomass used in this study. The distinction should be made clear to policymakers and the public: hemp seeds and stalks comprise hemp-based animal feed, and they are specifically excepted from the Controlled Substances Act because they produce no cannabinoids.

Government authorities around the world, including the FDA, have accordingly acknowledged these parts of the plant to be safe for human consumption (GRAS).

“Hemp is an environmentally responsible and domestically grown feed alternative. Considering the higher costs associated with the worldwide grain shortage due to the war in Ukraine, a sustainable American hemp crop is a nutritious source of animal feed and can lower the cost of farming feed inputs. This would be good news for farmers and consumers who now struggle with the higher costs of milk, meat, and eggs, and we look forward to working with the FDA and the livestock industry on science-based solutions that protect animals and consumers.”

About NIHC 

The National Industrial Hemp Council of America provides high-quality networking and resources for its members, from farm to consumer. Its leadership is composed of leading international, federal, state, private industry, and government professionals throughout the sector. The organization is dedicated to furthering market development, assisting members in entering the industry, and educating consumers on industrial hemp and its applications. For more information, please go to www.nihcoa.com.

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KEHE CON – The Kenya Hemp Conference, Jan 20, 2025, in Nairobi, Kenya

KEHE CON is the Kenya Hemp conference and is a meeting of researchers, policymakers, growers, and investors. Kenya is an emerging agricultural space for industrial hemp.

The Kenya Hemp Conference brings together industry leaders, researchers, policymakers, and other stakeholders to gain insights into international trade opportunities and understand the environmental benefits of industrial hemp.

Patrick Atagi, NIHC CEO & President, will be speaking on international trade and development. This one-day event will have many networking opportunities, sharing (challenges and opportunities), gaining market insights, and participating in discussions about the legal landscape of hemp.

Kenya is developing a sustainable hemp sector with innovative products and applications that could transform industries, from agriculture to manufacturing.

This is a wonderful opportunity to understand how hemp can be a game-changer for sustainability while empowering economic development.

Learn more about this exciting event here.

To find out how you and your company can become involved, please contact us at info@hempindustrial.com