Hempseed meal approved for use in layer feed in the US
US Approves Hempseed Meal for Commercial Hen Feed, Sparking International Debate.
Finally, after years of work by US hemp organizations such as the Hemp Feed Coalition, a hemp ingredient has been green lit for use in commerical laying hen feed in the US.
The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) gave its final approval to a definition for hempseed meal (HSM) during its annual meeting in San Antonia, Texas on August 7.
Hempseed meal (HSM) is derived from grinding or milling the cake left after most of the oil is extracted from the seeds of Cannabis sativa L. through mechanical processing. It can now be used as a protein and fat source in diets for US layers, with an inclusion rate of up to 20%.
Later this year, HSM will be provisionally included in AAFCO’s official publication—the industry’s key resource for ingredient definitions, regulations, and manufacturing procedures.
This provisional status permits individual states to move forward with commercial adoption, although feed regulators are not obligated to accept it. According to the Hemp Feed Coalition (HFC), most states do adopt these tentative approvals, facilitating the broader use of HSM as an animal feed ingredient. Tentative definitions undergo annual review, after which AAFCO may decide to make the definition official.
Thresholds cause alarm in international arena
Earlier this year, following three years of collaboration between the US Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Veterinary Medicine (FDA-CVM) and the HFC, the FDA-CVM recommended the approval of HSM for laying hens, contingent on the HFC’s agreement to the FDA’s proposed contaminant thresholds. The approved meal must contain no more than 2 parts-per-million (ppm) of total THC and 20 ppm of total CBD.
However, these thresholds have raised concerns.
In June, the European Industrial Hemp Association (EIHA) argued that the proposed limits do not align with current research on cannabinoid risk in feed, potentially excluding most commercially available hempseed meal and making the market unviable.
Similarly, the Canadian Hemp Trade Alliance (CHTA) expressed alarm in May, noting that the thresholds would be too low for hemp varieties commonly grown in North America, potentially influencing Canadian regulatory decisions.
Responding to these concerns, the HFC emphasized that while international harmonization of hemp regulations would be ideal, the US regulatory environment differs significantly.
The FDA’s stringent standards for cannabinoid content make alignment challenging, and considering other countries’ regulations could be seen as a protective move by outside advocates, said the non-profit.
The HFC's Andrew Bish said the group remains focused on ensuring the safety and efficacy of HSM within the US regulatory framework. However, he did acknowledge that continued international dialogue is important for future alignment.
In July, Geoff Whaling, chair of the US National Hemp Association (NHA), urged AAFCO to dismiss the objections raised by EIHA and CHTA, arguing that these groups do not represent US interests. He claimed they are driven by market protectionism rather than genuine industry progress, according to a report by Hemp Today.
