In a crucial development for the hemp-derived CBD industry in the USA, a group of Senators reintroduced a pivotal piece of legislation titled “The Hemp Access and Consumer Safety Act”.
Initially proposed in 2021, the Act aims to make hemp-derived CBD products legal in supplement and food forms. Senators Ron Wyden, Rand Paul, and Jeff Merkley, are driving this legislative effort in response to an ongoing regulatory grey zone surrounding CBD products.
In the current scenario, American consumers lack assurances regarding the quality and safety of CBD food and dietary supplements, a gap the new Act intends to address.
The legislation aims to empower the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to regulate these products, similar to other legal dietary supplements, foods, and beverages.
This comes after the FDA announced in January that it was not in a position to regulate cannabidiol (CBD) products, urging Congress to take the lead.
The proposed Act, endorsed by industry organisations such as the U.S. Hemp Roundtable and the American Herbal Products Association (AHPA), mandates that CBD-containing products align with existing federal regulations.
It would not only allow for hemp-derived CBD use in dietary supplements, foods, and beverages under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act but also demand appropriate product labelling.
“We commend Senator Wyden for reintroducing The Hemp Access and Consumer Safety Act, a crucial piece of legislation that addresses the pressing need for FDA regulation of CBD,” expressed Jonathan S. Miller, the general counsel of the U.S. Hemp Roundtable.
The AHPA President, Michael McGuffin, added, “Americans deserve to have assurances that the hemp and CBD products they include in their food and dietary supplement choices are properly regulated.” He affirmed AHPA’s support for the legislation, stating it would clarify the lawful pathways for bringing such products to market.
If passed, the Hemp Access and Consumer Safety Act will not only bolster consumer safety but also fuel the growth of the thriving USA hemp industry.
