The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has extended the comment period for the U.S. Domestic Hemp Production Program interim final rule until Jan. 29, 2020.
The USDA said in a press release that the extension will allow stakeholders additional time to provide feedback. The initial deadline for comments was Dec. 31, 2019.
USDA published the interim final rule on Oct. 31, 2019, as authorized by the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (2018 Farm Bill). The rule outlines provisions for USDA to approve plans submitted by states and Indian tribes for the domestic production of hemp. It also establishes a federal plan for producers in states or territories of Indian tribes that do not have their own USDA-approved plan.
Stakeholders can submit written comments at www.regulations.gov. Comments may also be submitted by mail to Docket Clerk, Marketing Order and Agreement Division, Specialty Crops Program, AMS, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, STOP 0237, Washington, DC 20250-0237; or by fax at 202-720-8938.
Comments received by Jan. 29, 2020, will be considered before a final rule is issued Nov. 1, 2021.
As of Dec. 31, the USDA had received more than 1,500 comments on the rule.
