A bill introduced in the U.S. Senate would unburden hemp grain and fiber growers of sampling and testing protocols, costly requirements that disincentivize growers, according to the measure’s sponsors.
While hemp-derived grain and fiber products have always been exempt from the federal Controlled Substances Act, under current U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) rules, all hemp crops are subject to compliance testing.
Under provisions in the proposed law, the Industrial Hemp Act 2023, hemp farms would not be required to undergo background checks and testing protocols if their crops are deemed compliant. Producers who violate the rules would be barred from participating in the hemp industry for five years.
Under the Industrial Hemp Act 2023, farmers would only need to go through an annual visual inspection to show they are growing their crops for approved hemp products. Farms that fail the inspection could provide documentation demonstrating “a clear intent and in-field practices consistent with the designation” of industrial hemp. Failure to do so would allow regulators to test harvested plant material.
The measure also would block states and tribes from placing restrictions on industrial hemp growers that are more stringent than those in the federal bill.
This story was published in Hemp Today.