To: National Organic Standards Board
NOSB: Recommend to USDA to Certify Organic Hemp Grown in the U.S. through the NOP
Seven USDA Organic certifications have already been issued for legal, domestically-produced hemp. However, on February 16, 2016, the USDA released an instruction to NOP certifiers to stop issuing certifications for industrial hemp crops in the U.S. The instruction cites two reasons for ceasing certification: concerns about the safety of industrial hemp for consumption, and its yet “undetermined legal status.”
Based on the clear evidence presented: that the legality of hemp pilot programs is clear under Sec. 7606 of the Farm Bill and; the legality of hemp seed and fiber is clear under 21 U.S.C. 802(16) and; it is a fact that USDA currently allows certification of hemp crops under the NOP and has for at least 15 years,
We the undersigned respectfully request that the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) take a position in favor of allowing organic certification of U.S. hemp crops grown under Sec. 7606 of the Farm Bill and recommend to USDA that it move forward on organic certifications of hemp through the NOP.
Based on the clear evidence presented: that the legality of hemp pilot programs is clear under Sec. 7606 of the Farm Bill and; the legality of hemp seed and fiber is clear under 21 U.S.C. 802(16) and; it is a fact that USDA currently allows certification of hemp crops under the NOP and has for at least 15 years,
We the undersigned respectfully request that the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) take a position in favor of allowing organic certification of U.S. hemp crops grown under Sec. 7606 of the Farm Bill and recommend to USDA that it move forward on organic certifications of hemp through the NOP.
Why is this important?
Industrial hemp is an agricultural commodity that is cultivated for use in the production of a wide range of products, including foods and beverages, cosmetics and personal care products, and nutritional supplements, as well as fabrics and textiles, paper, construction and insulation materials, and other manufactured goods. Hemp can be grown as a fiber, seed, or other dual-purpose crops.
Congress added Sec. 7606 to the 2014 Farm Bill which defines industrial hemp as distinct from marijuana and authorizes hemp research and pilot programs by universities and state departments of agriculture. In 2015, states including Colorado, Kentucky, Oregon and Tennessee authorized hemp pilot programs conducted by farmers and more than 3,900 acres of hemp were harvested.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has been certifying hemp crops organic under the National Organic Program (NOP) for more than 15 years and hundreds of millions of dollars of consumable USDA organic hemp products have been sold worldwide. Currently hemp foods and supplements are sold by thousands of U.S. retailers and hemp seed products are widely recognized as safe and nutritious. Hemp crops in Canada, Europe and China are certified organic under the NOP each year.
Hemp seed and fiber is 100% legal to import and sell in the U.S. and legal USDA organic certified hemp products, made with hemp grown in other countries, are sold in thousands of retail outlets across the U.S.
Sterilized or processed hemp seed is excluded from the definition of marijuana under 21 U.S.C. 802(16):
(16) The term ‘‘marihuana’’ means all parts of the plant Cannabis sativa L., whether growing or not; the seeds thereof; the resin extracted from any part of such plant; and every compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture, or preparation of such plant, its seeds or resin. Such term does not include the mature stalks of such plant, fiber produced from such stalks, oil or cake made from the seeds of such plant, any other compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture, or preparation of such mature stalks (except the resin extracted therefrom), fiber, oil, or cake, or the sterilized seed of such plant which is incapable of germination.
- Petition prepared by the Hemp Industries Association (HIA) -
Congress added Sec. 7606 to the 2014 Farm Bill which defines industrial hemp as distinct from marijuana and authorizes hemp research and pilot programs by universities and state departments of agriculture. In 2015, states including Colorado, Kentucky, Oregon and Tennessee authorized hemp pilot programs conducted by farmers and more than 3,900 acres of hemp were harvested.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has been certifying hemp crops organic under the National Organic Program (NOP) for more than 15 years and hundreds of millions of dollars of consumable USDA organic hemp products have been sold worldwide. Currently hemp foods and supplements are sold by thousands of U.S. retailers and hemp seed products are widely recognized as safe and nutritious. Hemp crops in Canada, Europe and China are certified organic under the NOP each year.
Hemp seed and fiber is 100% legal to import and sell in the U.S. and legal USDA organic certified hemp products, made with hemp grown in other countries, are sold in thousands of retail outlets across the U.S.
Sterilized or processed hemp seed is excluded from the definition of marijuana under 21 U.S.C. 802(16):
(16) The term ‘‘marihuana’’ means all parts of the plant Cannabis sativa L., whether growing or not; the seeds thereof; the resin extracted from any part of such plant; and every compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture, or preparation of such plant, its seeds or resin. Such term does not include the mature stalks of such plant, fiber produced from such stalks, oil or cake made from the seeds of such plant, any other compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture, or preparation of such mature stalks (except the resin extracted therefrom), fiber, oil, or cake, or the sterilized seed of such plant which is incapable of germination.
- Petition prepared by the Hemp Industries Association (HIA) -