The Hemp Feed Coalition announced that hemp seed meal for laying hens has been published in the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) Official Publication, marking a significant milestone for hemp and poultry producers nationwide.
The publication comes nearly two years after AAFCO’s Ingredient Definition Committee initially approved hemp seed meal for this use, but regulatory challenges persist despite the achievement.
“Even after the approval vote in January 2024, many state regulators denied or stalled applications for hemp feed until it appeared in the Official Publication,” said Morgan Tweet, CEO of IND HEMP. “Some states went even further—refusing approval until the publication is publicly available in print for a full year.”
In 2024, AAFCO and FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine established separate regulatory pathways aimed at streamlining the process, though HFC remains cautious about whether these changes will accelerate market access.
“What matters most is that progress like this moves hemp closer to functioning as a real agricultural commodity,” said Andrew Bish, HFC president. “Every new approval opens doors for farmers to access new markets.”
HFC is now preparing its next application for hemp seed meal use in ruminant feed.
