Florida’s Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has reported the removal of nearly 11,000 hemp product packages in the first week of “Operation Safe Summer.” The initiative, led by Commissioner Wilton Simpson, aims to ensure compliance with child-protection standards in packaging, labeling, and marketing.
Simpson said, “We have drawn a hard line in Florida when it comes to protecting our children from dangerous and deceptive hemp products. ‘Operation Safe Summer’ is our latest effort to crack down on bad actors who think they can skirt the law, ignore public safety, and profit off high-potency, intoxicating hemp products that endanger our children.”
The operation included inspections across 20 counties in Florida. Violations were found regarding child-resistant packaging and improper marketing strategies targeting minors. Simpson emphasized their commitment to holding violators accountable: “We will not tire in our commitment to cleaning up this industry… if you refuse to follow the law, you won’t be doing business in Florida.”
Amendments to Rule 5K-4.034 of the Florida Administrative Code now enforce stricter guidelines for hemp products intended for human consumption. These include prohibitions on certain color additives and requirements for child-resistant packaging according to ASTM International standards. Additionally, certificates of analysis must detail THC concentrations and confirm the absence of prohibited substances.
Since July 2023, over 738,000 packages have been identified as non-compliant with these standards. The legislative session also saw Commissioner Simpson collaborate with lawmakers on SB 1676 to further protect minors by restricting marketing practices and enforcing age requirements for purchasing hemp products.
In a previous inspection sweep conducted statewide during July and August 2023, more than 83,000 packages were found violating regulations aimed at preventing child-targeted marketing.
For further details about Commissioner Simpson or FDACS initiatives, visit FDACS.gov.
Information from this article can be found here.
