Getting into the hemp business is much more than just growing the plants.  There are a host of other things that need to happen.

 

“For a crop to be sold in the United States, EPA must approve a pesticide use on that crop and associated pesticide labeling,” said the EPA’s Alexandra Dunn, at a recent Ag committee hearing.

 

She added the EPA has received requests to include hemp on the labels of 10 existing pesticides; Those requests are under review.  Meanwhile, what about the safety of feeding hemp products to food-producing livestock, and also the safety of hemp-based human food and cosmetic products?

 

“To our knowledge the studies simply haven't been done,” said Dr. Amy Abernathy with the FDA.  “We are moving as quickly as possible to learn what is known and develop a work plan to fill in the gaps.”

Dr. Abernathy added FDA will report on its progress sometime this fall.  Also this fall, USDA Secretary Greg Ibach said final rules and regulations for growing hemp should be published and enforced for 2020 the crop year.

 

 

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