The American Farm Bureau Federation and the National Industrial Hemp Council have asked the Environmental Protection Agency to add 10 crop protection products to the applications approved for use on hemp. The groups made the request in rule-making comments submitted to the agency.

The groups wrote that in order for "hemp to reach its full potential, it is essential that EPA take a leadership role in consistent review of applications for use on hemp to facilitate a consistent and equal playing field to the degree possible across state jurisdictions. EPA’s approach here is encouraging on this front.”

EPA requested comments regarding adding hemp to the labels of products registered under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide & Rodenticide Act.

The groups also asked EPA to approve these and additional applications to expand the range of approved products and provide their members with lawful options for pest control beginning in 2020.

Hemp’s popularity skyrocketed further upon passage of the 2018 farm bill. The legislation opened the door for growers and processors to more directly engage in, participate in and build the hemp industry. However, several decades have passed since the growing and processing of industrial hemp last took place in the U.S., resulting in significant gaps in knowledge that now necessitate education, process/market validation and innovation exploration.

Related:Agencies scrambling to learn about hemp

On Sept. 25, the House passed the Secure & Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act (H.R. 1595), which would allow hemp- and marijuana-related businesses in states with existing regulatory structures to access the banking system. The bill passed the House by a vote of 321-103.

The SAFE Banking Act seeks to harmonize federal and state laws by prohibiting federal regulators from taking punitive measures against depository institutions that provide banking services to legitimate cannabis-related businesses and ancillary businesses that serve them. The bill establishes a safe harbor for any depository institution that chooses to provide banking services to a legitimate cannabis-related business that holds and maintains a license from a state or local government to engage in manufacturing, growing or producing cannabis as well as any business that handles, sells, transports, displays or distributes cannabis or cannabis products.

Rep. Joe Courtney (D., Conn.), one of the original bill’s co-sponsors, said, “Our hemp farmers and medical marijuana dispensary owners are operating in accordance with state law, and the local banking institutions they work with should not be penalized by federal regulators because they offer banking services to companies and farmers that we here in Connecticut have allowed to do business.”

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