Experts share perspectives during NASDA Policy Committee Meeting
Indianapolis, IN (September 25, 2024) – The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture discussed “Regulatory Landscape Surrounding Hemp and Hemp-Derived Products” during the Plant Agriculture and Pesticide Regulation Committee meeting at NASDA’s 2024 Annual Meeting.
The session featured the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research Senior Public Health Advisor Norman Birenbaum, and Cannabis Regulators Association Executive Director Dr. Gillian Schauer, who provided perspectives on the current regulatory challenges in state and national markets and current and potential policy concerns in the evolving hemp industry.
“This is an important regulatory topic that has posed unique challenges to state agencies,” Schauer says. “Part of CANNRA’s mission is to ensure that agencies within and across states are sharing information and lessons learned and NASDA’s Annual Meeting provided a wonderful opportunity to continue those discussions.”
Schauer and Birenbaum provided insights into the current regulatory landscape and discussed potential solutions to address these challenges.
“The FDA has concluded that a new regulatory pathway for these products is needed that balances individuals’ desire for access to CBD and other certain hemp-derived products with the regulatory oversight needed to manage risks,” Birenbaum says. “The agency is prepared to work with Congress on this matter. The FDA will continue to take action against CBD and other cannabis-derived products to protect the public, in coordination with state regulatory partners, when appropriate. We will remain diligent in monitoring the marketplace, identifying products that pose risks and acting within our authorities. The FDA, as always, works with Congress at their request. There is a significant opportunity to develop a cross-agency strategy for the regulation of these products to protect the public’s health and safety.”
NASDA supports hemp regulation which provides flexibility and opportunities to learn in the future. Hemp continues to be a growing industry in agriculture, and since its inclusion in the 2014 Farm Bill, NASDA continues to see market development and interest at the state and national levels. Collaborative work amongst state, industry and federal agencies is crucial for the continued growth of this industry.
NASDA’s newly elected board of directors urge Congress to pass farm bill in 2024
NASDA’s newly appointed board of directors unanimously passed a resolution expressing support for the expeditious passage of a comprehensive, bi-partisan farm bill.
“America’s farmers and ranchers provide the food, fiber, fuel and shelter that we all depend on every single day, but they are subject to numerous and complex challenges that are out of their control,” says newly-elected NASDA President Wes Ward. “Agriculture is national security and it is critical that Congress pass a new farm bill in 2024.”
The resolution highlights the recent extreme weather events, elevated input and interest costs and supply chain disruptions farmers and ranchers continue to battle daily. It also focuses on the need to strengthen nutrition security across the United States, and the farm bill’s role in funding critical food and nutritional assistance programs and bolstering local and regional food systems for improved supply chain resilience.
Agricultural producers, the rural economy and communities of every size rely upon a forward-looking, and fully funded farm bill that provides a safety net for our farmers and ranchers while also protecting critical food and nutritional assistance for those who need it most. NASDA continues to ask Congress to pass a farm bill in 2024.
NASDA is a nonpartisan, nonprofit association which represents the elected and appointed commissioners, secretaries and directors of the departments of agriculture in all 50 states and four U.S. territories. NASDA enhances American food and agricultural communities through policy, partnerships and public engagement. To learn more about NASDA, please visit www.nasda.org.