Currently, 209 hemp and hemp-derivative pet supplement products are available on the U.S. market, according to a National Animal Supplement Council (NASC) Ingredient Risk Report submitted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on July 8. Some of these products have been available for a decade.
Out of approximately 34 million times that these hemp-derivative pet supplements have been used, only six adverse events have been reported in dogs, with one in cats and three in horses, according to the NASC.
NASC hemp supplements advisory committee
NASC formed an advisory committee to examine the use of hemp and cannabidiol (CBD) as a dog, cat and other pet supplement. The team involves more than 20 people.
NASC Expert Advisory Committee for Hemp/CBD Products objectives:
- Finalize testing requirements for hemp and hemp derivative products – to be completed by end of July 2019
- Finalize NASC requirements for responsibly marketing hemp/CBD products, along with reasoning/rationale behind the position – to be completed by October 2019 or earlier
- Present NASC Board of Directors with committee recommendations and a request for approval
- Once board approval is secured, present the information to FDA/CVM with the emphasis that until the agency provides further definitive guidance, this will be the NASC’s pathway regarding these products
More articles about CBD in pet products
How the US Farm Bill affects hemp products in pet foods
The Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018 (better known as the "Farm Bill") has been signed into law (see web box). It affects a significant number of different federal programs and policies, both related to agriculture and not. However, a few lines at the end of the bill appear to have grabbed the most public attention; that is, the paragraph amending the status of hemp to become a legal agricultural crop. Does this herald the inclusion of hemp-derived ingredients in pet foods, including cannabidiol (CBD), as announced by some in the industry?
3 controversial pet food ingredients debated by AAFCO
AAFCO issued guidelines that no hemp-based ingredients have yet been defined or otherwise sanctioned for use in animal feed. AAFCO members based their decision on the US Food and Drug Administration’s position. Hence, any inclusion of hemp-based ingredients in pet food would be objectionable to state feed control officials.
