As in the past, we are monitoring proposed state and federal legislation, as well as any FDA and AAFCO discussions and/or research which may lead to pet food labeling changes and regulatory requirements for the sale of products containing hemp or cannabidiol (CBD).
As reported in our 2025 Regulatory Update Part 1, at its annual meeting in August 2025, the full AAFCO membership approved Hempseed meal for inclusion in the diets of laying hens (such as “backyard” chickens) as a source of protein and fat at an inclusion rate of no more than 20% of the diet. Almost two years after AAFCO’s Ingredient Definition Committee voted to approve hempseed meal for this use, the ingredient will be published in AAFCO’s Official Publication (OP), which serves as a regulatory guide for the feed industry. However, as publication in the OP does not mandate individual state acceptance, the regulatory path forward for this hemp ingredient remains a state-by-state endeavor.