True Leaf Medicine International Ltd. announced a donation of $10,000 (USD) to the Hemp Feed Coalition to advance its efforts to engage the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on new uses of hemp for pets.
The announcement comes on the heels of a historic day for hemp. On Thursday, U.S. President Trump signed a bill making hemp legal in the U.S. creating greater opportunities for hemp farmers and the advancement of hemp production for use in human and animal products.
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The Hemp Feed Coalition — which includes True Leaf — is a diverse group of industry stakeholders such as hemp producers, veterinarians, regulatory bodies, retailers, colleges, and universities. Its goal is to obtain U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Center for Veterinary Medicine (FDA-CVM) approval of new uses for hemp grain products in pet food and animal feed. While the Farm Bill legalizes hemp and recognizes it as an agricultural product, the FDA-CVM must still approve new pet products with added hemp.
The Hemp Feed Coalition is steering hemp grain products through the FDA’s Food Additive Petition process. Each petition approved by the FDA-CVM would open the door for the pet and agriculture industries to use hemp in a variety of formulations in pet food and animal feed.
“Hemp can play a vital role in helping our pets live happier, healthier lives,” said Darcy Bomford, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of True Leaf. “That’s why we want to engage the FDA, assist the Hemp Feed Coalition through the petition process, and champion this effort for safe and effective hemp-based pet food. It’s all part of our commitment to be the global and trusted cannabis-for-pets brand leader.”
True Leaf made the largest donation to the Hemp Feed Coalition by offering to match the first $10,000 raised by the organization during its campaign at the 2018 Hemp Industries Association Conference. The total $25,500 (USD) raised will directly fund the required clinical trials and the final submission of a Food Additive Petition to the FDA-CVM in early 2019.
“Through our partnership with True Leaf, we have the potential to revolutionize the hemp and pet industries,” said Hunter Buffington, Executive Director of Colorado Hemp Industries Association. “True Leaf is championing an effort that could bring FDA-approved hemp-based pet food to market for the first time in the United States.”
True Leaf pioneered hemp-seed based pet supplements that provide calming support, promote hip and joint health, and help immune and heart function. The Company’s True Hemp line of functional treats, supplement oils, and chew sticks for dogs and cats has gained worldwide popularity and is now sold in more than 2,800 stores across North America and Europe. In the United States, the True Hemp™ line is approved by the National Animal Supplement Council (NASC) — one of the highest-level certifications in the pet industry.
The Hemp Feed Coalition expects to submit its first petition in 2019 which will open the door for hemp seed oil to be used in food for dogs and cats. Next, the Hemp Feed Coalition will prepare a petition for hemp protein powders for use in dog and cat food and start the process for hemp seed in cattle and horse feed. It expects to start the research phase for those petitions next year.
To learn more about the Hemp Feed Coalition, please visit thecohia.org/hemp-feed-coalition.
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