The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) has officially approved a definition for hempseed meal (HSM) during its recent annual meeting in San Antonio, Texas. Hempseed meal is produced by grinding or milling the residue left after extracting most of the oil from Cannabis sativa L. seeds through mechanical processing. This meal can now be utilized as a protein and fat source in US layer diets, with an inclusion rate of up to 20%.
In the upcoming months, HSM will be provisionally added to AAFCO’s official publication, which is a crucial resource for ingredient definitions, regulations, and manufacturing procedures in the industry. This provisional status allows individual states to proceed with commercial adoption, although feed regulators are not required to accept it. The Hemp Feed Coalition (HFC) has stated that most states typically adopt these provisional approvals, which will expand the use of HSM as an animal feed ingredient. The definitions will undergo an annual review, following which AAFCO may decide to make them official.
There have been some concerns raised about the thresholds set for international use. The US Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Veterinary Medicine (FDA-CVM) collaborated with the HFC for three years and recommended the approval of HSM for laying hens, on the condition that the HFC agrees to the FDA’s proposed limits for contaminants. The approved meal must contain no more than 2 parts-per-million (ppm) of total THC and 20 ppm of total CBD.
However, these thresholds have caused unease in the international arena. The European Industrial Hemp Association (EIHA) argued that the proposed limits do not align with current research on cannabinoid risk in feed, potentially excluding most commercially available hempseed meal and rendering the market unviable. Similarly, the Canadian Hemp Trade Alliance (CHTA) raised concerns in May, stating that the limits would be too low for hemp varieties commonly grown in North America, which could impact Canadian regulatory decisions.
In response to these apprehensions, the HFC emphasized that while international alignment of hemp regulations would be preferable, the US regulatory environment differs significantly. The FDA’s stringent standards for cannabinoid content pose challenges for alignment, and considering regulations from other countries could be viewed as a protective measure by external advocates. The HFC remains committed to ensuring the safety and effectiveness of HSM within the US regulatory framework, while acknowledging the importance of ongoing international discussions for future alignment.
Geoff Whaling, chair of the US National Hemp Association (NHA), urged AAFCO to disregard the objections raised by EIHA and CHTA, suggesting that these groups prioritize market protectionism over genuine industry advancement. It is crucial to consider all perspectives and continue the dialogue to navigate potential differences in regulations and standards across different regions.
