Currently, there is no ingredient definition for hemp and/or hemp products in pet food. The Ingredient Definitions Committee welcomes a manufacturer who will propose a definition. Methodology to request an ingredient be defined is well-detailed in the AAFCO OP (official publication).
In the meantime – no definition – no use! The FDA has specifically stated hemp products will not be approved for pet food. To change this – an ingredient must be defined. As there are many hemp products, including for pet use, on the market, safety information is available – this information is needed as part of the application process.
Interested? Contact us – Next Gen PFMA is here to help its members through the ingredient definition
process.
Hemp Anyone?
Industrial hemp is defined federally. see U.S. Code Title 7 § 5940(b)(2)
“The term “industrial hemp” includes the plant Cannabis sativa L. and any part or derivative of such plant, including seeds of such plant, whether growing or not, that is used exclusively for industrial purposes (fiber and seed) with a tetrahydrocannabinols concentration of not more than 0.3 percent on a dry weight basis.
The term “tetrahydrocannabinols” includes all isomers, acids, salts, and salts of isomers of tetrahydrocannabinols.”
However, hemp as an animal feed ingredient has not been defined. Part of the definition process includes safety information for each species for which the hemp products might be purposed. Until that process occurs, hemp products will be considered illegal in pet food and other animal feeds.