SENATE BILL REPORT

HB 2405

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Background: A commercial feed license is required of every person who manufactures, distributes, or is listed as a guarantor of commercial animal feed. The license is issued by the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA). Commercial animal feed must be packaged with a label stating the contents of the feed, the common names of ingredients, the net weight, and a guaranteed analysis of the contents.

Commercial animal feeds may not be sold if they include ingredients that are not recognized as acceptable ingredients or if they include ingredients that are seen as an alteration of the feed.

WSDA is responsible for deciding which ingredients are acceptable. In doing so, they must consider federal regulations and the official definitions and terms adopted for commercial feed by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO).

AAFCO is a voluntary membership association of local, state, and federal agencies that regulate the sale and distribution of animal feeds. AAFCO is not a regulatory agency in and of itself, but an organization composed of regulatory agencies from across the country. To be eligible for sale in Washington, most feed ingredients must meet definitions established by AAFCO.

Hemp is currently not an allowable component of animal feed in Washington and is not defined as a feed ingredient by AAFCO.

Summary of Bill: WSDA must evaluate whether hemp and hemp products should be allowed as a component of animal feed. In that process, WSDA may focus its efforts as appropriate and limit its scope to particular classes of animals where current research suggests that hemp has the most benefit on animal health, animal welfare, the resulting animal product, or the overall physical environment.

WSDA must take the appropriate administrative actions to allow hemp as a component of commercial feed if it is determined in the evaluation that the addition of hemp is appropriate. If WSDA finds that hemp is not an appropriate addition to the list of allowable feed ingredients, then a report must be issued to the Legislature explaining WSDA's findings.

WSDA must complete the evaluation by June 30, 2017. If that date cannot be satisfied, WSDA must recommend legislation to request an extension of the date.