Department of Agriculture and Forestry, State of Louisiana - Mike Strain DVM, Commissioner

NEWS

Louisiana Industrial Hemp Program regulations finalized

LDAF issues first industrial hemp license in the state

February 20, 2020

Louisiana Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain, D.V.M., and Hemp Program Director Lester Cannon were on hand as the first industrial hemp license was issued to Nanette Noland.

Baton Rouge, La. (Feb. 20, 2020) –State rules and regulations for the Louisiana Industrial Hemp Program are now finalized, Louisiana Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain, D.V.M., announced today. The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF) also has begun issuing licenses for the production, processing and transportation of industrial hemp in Louisiana.

“Our Industrial Hemp Program administrators worked hard to ensure the regulatory framework was in place as soon as feasibly possible and in time for the 2020 planting season,” Strain said. “The LDAF will continue to assist and support the new industrial hemp industry.”

The LDAF Industrial Hemp Program is the state’s designated regulatory authority for the production, processing and transportation of industrial hemp.

Any person growing, handling, transporting or processing industrial hemp or hemp seed is required to possess a current license issued by the LDAF. All applicants are required to submit a completed application, background check and license fees.

The four types of industrial hemp licenses are as follows:

Grower License – authorizes the licensee to cultivate, handle and transport industrial hemp regardless of the intended use;

Processor License – authorizes the licensee to handle, process and transport industrial hemp;

Seed Producer – authorizes the licensee to produce, transport and sell industrial hemp seed

Contract Carrier – authorizes the licensee to transport industrial hemp; required when the transporter is not the licensed grower or processor of the plant material.

For more information on the Louisiana Industrial Hemp Program, visit www.ldaf.state.la.us and click on the industrial hemp tab.

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