Back in the Barn: AAFCO’s Hempseed Meal Greenlight and the 2025 State-by-State Adoption Curve

The landscape for cannabis regulation is shifting in an unexpected arena: animal feed. In August 2024, the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) published a long-awaited tentative definition greenlighting the use of hempseed meal as a feed ingredient for laying hens. This pivotal update—developed in partnership with the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine—opens major opportunities for hemp-derived products, but also brings with it a maze of state-by-state regulatory adoption that feed producers and the ag sector must now navigate through 2025 and beyond.

What Exactly Did AAFCO Approve?

AAFCO’s August 2024 action centers on a tentative definition for hempseed meal specifically as a protein and fat source in feed for laying hens. The definition, while cautious, reflects years of research into nutritional value, residue data, and the safety profile of hempseed byproducts.

What Is Hempseed Meal?

Hempseed meal is the product left after oil is pressed from hemp seeds (Cannabis sativa L., varieties bred for negligible THC). It is valued for its:

• High protein content
• Essential fatty acids
• Fiber and micronutrients

Importantly, AAFCO’s definition excludes cannabinoid-rich plant fractions, stalk, or flowers. Only hempseed derivatives—in which cannabinoids like CBD and THC are extremely minimal or undetectable—are in focus for animal feed.

Federal vs. State Approval: Why 2025 Is a Patchwork Year

How the Feed Regulatory System Works

While AAFCO sets benchmarks and the FDA backs safety data, feed ingredients must still be formally adopted by each state’s feed control authority before they can be legally used or sold as livestock or poultry feed in that state. This creates a classic “patchwork” scenario. As 2025 unfolds, adopters and laggards will emerge, requiring:

• Producers and mills to track state-by-state rules
• Retailers to ensure compliance in target markets
• Farmers and integrators to confirm ingredient legality

You can check each state's feed regulations and status via their feed control office, typically under state departments of agriculture or public health.

For up-to-date feed control office links and detailed guidance on your state’s compliance status, regularly consult the AAFCO state contacts or your state's official agricultural or feed regulatory agency.

Key Compliance Considerations for Hempseed Meal in Poultry Feed

1. Scope: What’s In and What’s Out

• In: Only hempseed meal (defatted seed cake), produced from grain-type hemp/breeding lines registered for negligible THC.
• Out: No leaves, flowers, stalks, or extraneous plant material; no significant cannabinoid fractions.
• Other hemp ingredients (oil, hulls): Not yet covered by this tentative definition for poultry feed.

2. Residue Expectations & Cannabinoid Limits

• All commercial lots must meet negligible THC thresholds (typically under 0.3% THC in the raw seed, much lower in meal).
• Guaranteed analysis and Certificates of Analysis (COAs) should confirm absence of prohibition-level cannabinoid residues. Some states may require random or batch testing.
• Producers should confirm ingredient identity and retain documentation for regulatory review.

3. Labeling and Guaranteed Analysis

Standard animal feed labeling requirements apply, including:

• Ingredient statement as defined by AAFCO
• Guaranteed analysis for protein, fat, fiber, and moisture
• State-required feed registration/labeling and possible listing of hemp origin

See AAFCO’s 2024 Feed Ingredient Definitions for precise format and what must appear on the label.

4. Recordkeeping for Ingredient Identity

To demonstrate compliance, businesses should:

• Retain vendor/supplier documentation showing source, processing method, and lab results
• Keep records of batch/lot tracking for all hempseed meal added to feed
• Be prepared for state or federal inspection of records

5. State Commercialization Timeline: 2025 Adoption Curve

Because AAFCO’s 2024 ruling is not automatically binding on states, expect a rolling adoption:

• Some states (e.g., Colorado, Montana) likely to move quickly, having already pushed for similar policy
• Other states may wait on further guidance, legal review, or legislative session for formal adoption
• Check with your state feed control office before manufacturing, selling, or purchasing hempseed meal-containing feeds

Consult the Hemp Feed Coalition adoption tracker and AAFCO updates for the latest on state progress.

What Species Is Next for Hempseed Feed Approval?

Following the laying hen milestone, research and regulatory advocacy are ramping up on:

• Broiler chickens (meat birds)
• Swine
• Beef and dairy cattle

Each species will require safety studies and regulatory processes, so wide-scale use in all food-producing animals is still on the horizon.

A critical note: Until further action, cannabinoids—even low levels—are not approved in feed for food-producing animals. Don’t use whole-plant hemp or cannabinoid hemp extracts unless specifically authorized.

Major Takeaways for Cannabis Business Operators and Feed Producers

Opportunities

• Innovative feed offering: Enter new markets with a sustainable, novel protein/fat source
• Differentiation: Emphasize science-backed, minimal-residue ingredient sourcing
• Stakeholder positioning: Engage with regulators, feed industry groups, and veterinarians to guide future expansion

Caution Points

• State patchwork risk: It is not "legal everywhere"—you must prove state adoption before distributing feeds
• Recordkeeping and recall exposure: Feed recalls or mislabeling events may prompt regulatory scrutiny; only procure from qualified, transparent suppliers
• Labeling vigilance: Correct ingredient declaration averts noncompliance
• Federal updates: Monitor continued FDA and USDA updates regarding livestock ingredient approvals and potential food chain residue implications

Enforcement and Industry Best Practices

Most states have significant civil penalties for mislabeling or unauthorized use of feed ingredients. Enforcement is typically handled by the state department of agriculture or a feed regulatory agency, with periodic sampling and label checks.

• Products found with improper labeling, excess THC/cannabinoids, or unapproved hemp fractions may be subject to stop-sale orders, recall, or fines.

Tip: Join your state or regional feed/manufacturing association for updates on state regulatory rollouts and best practices.

How to Check Your State’s Status in 2025

1. Identify your state’s feed control office via the AAFCO state regulatory directory
2. Search for state-issued notices, rule changes, or ingredient lists referencing hempseed meal under the new AAFCO definition
3. Connect with the Hemp Feed Coalition for trackers and advocacy support

If in doubt, delay feed product launch and consult your regulator.

Looking Forward: The Broader Path for Cannabis in Animal Feed

The AAFCO hempseed meal poultry feed 2025 update is a breakthrough for the broader cannabis supply chain and the feed industry. It demonstrates a science- and safety-first approach, as well as an incremental pathway to bring cannabis derivatives into mainstream ag.

However, federal and state law will continue to move species by species, ingredient by ingredient. Staying informed and proactive is essential—for both opportunity capture and compliance risk avoidance.

Stay ahead of state-by-state cannabis feed regulation dynamics. For individualized compliance resources, rule trackers, and feed labeling support, visit CannabisRegulations.ai.