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U.S. House members push FDA on hemp regulations

Some U.S. House Members have asked the FDA to quickly determine how it will regulate hemp-derived CBD in food products.  A letter has been sent to FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb asking for clarification of the agency’s regulatory role for CBD products. 

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree of Maine says the FDA recognized three hemp seed products as safe, but took enforcement actions in Ohio, New York, and Maine against sellers of food and beverage products using CBD as an ingredient.

Pingree’s letter was also signed by Mark Pocan of Wisconsin and Betty McCollum of Minnesota.

The U.S. Senate is also putting pressure on the USDA to quickly implement the 2018 Farm Bill and follow the intent of Congress.  Senators Mitch McConnell and Ron Wyden wrote to Secretary Sonny Perdue last week saying the USDA should issue guidance to minimize interference with the lawful interstate transportation of hemp products and to end any uncertainty the banking industry might have with this legal commodity.