Silver Spring, MD—The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) sent a letter to leaders of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture and U.S. House Committee on Agriculture expressing strong support for four priority issues to be considered in the 2023 Farm Bill reauthorization. The 2018 Farm Bill (which federally legalized hemp with no more than 0.3 percent THC) is set to expire on September 30.
“The next Farm Bill presents a significant opportunity to support and strengthen herbal crop growers and producers,” said AHPA President Michael McGuffin. “We encourage Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow, Chairman Glenn Thompson, Ranking Member John Boozman, and Ranking Member David Scott to seriously consider taking action on issues that AHPA has identified as crucial to protecting consumers from fraud, strengthening the gold-standard NOP, and supporting farmers.”
4 priority issues to be considered in the 2023 Farm Bill
As outlined in an AHPA news post, the association supports:
Amendment to Organic Food Production Act (OFPA)
The amendment is to clarify the National Organic Program’s (NOP’s) authority to regulate all dietary supplement products labeled or marketed with “organic” claims (and not, per the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s 2020 policy change, solely those labeled or marketed with claims referencing the USDA or the NOP, including the latter’s seal).
Hemp
Amendment of the legal definition of hemp to raise the delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) limit from 0.3 percent to 1 percent and to remove an existing requirement that hemp crops can be tested for THC-limit compliance only by laboratories with Drug Enforcement Administration registrations.
Industrial Hemp Act of 2023
Inclusion of the Industrial Hemp Act of 2023 (S. 980 and H.R. 3755), which would create a clear distinction between industrial hemp fiber and grain versus cannabinoid or flower hemp as well as less-burdensome regulations for production of hemp grown for fiber or grain.
Specialty Crop Block Grant Program
Increased funding for the USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant program in the 2023 Farm Bill.
