New Mexico Register / Volume XXX, Issue 10 / May 28, 2019

 

 

NOTICE OF RULEMAKING HEARINGS

 

The New Mexico Department of Agriculture (NMDA) has scheduled rule hearings for:

 

Thursday, June 27, 2019 at 10 am at Crowne Plaza Albuquerque, 1901 University Blvd. NE., Albuquerque, NM 87102.

 

Friday, June 28, 2019 at 8:00am at the New Mexico Department of Agriculture, at 3190 S. Espina, Las Cruces, NM, on the corner of Espina and Gregg.

 

Formal hearings will be held to receive public input on the newly developed rule 21.20.3 NMAC – Hemp Manufacturing Rule.

 

Purpose:

To develop a rule to accompany statutory language which allows the department of agriculture to administer the hemp manufacturing program.

 

The 2018 farm bill removed hemp from the federal controlled substances act and provided a framework for the growing of hemp.  NMDA is currently licensing hemp producers.

 

The department has worked closely with producers and processors who are seeking security in the development of the extracting, processing, and manufacturing components of this new industry.

 

During the 2019 legislative session HB 581 Hemp Manufacturing Act was passed and signed into law.  The legislation grants the New Mexico Department of Agriculture and the New Mexico Environment Department the regulatory authority over manufacturers, processors, labs, researchers, and plant breeders.

 

Rule Summary: To establish a rule for the administration of the hemp manufacturing act components of the Hemp Manufacturing Act assigned to the New Mexico Department of Agriculture.  The proposed rule establishes licensure requirements for laboratories, breeders, researchers, fee caps, and inspection/sampling requirements.

 

Legal Authority Authorizing the Rule:

Granted to the board of regents of New Mexico State University under the Industrial Hemp Manufacturing Act, Chapter 76, Article 24, Section 1, NMSA 1978 Compilation.

 

Interested individuals may provide comments regarding the proposed rulemaking actions at the rule hearing and/or submit written comments via email at comments@nmda.nmsu.edu.  Written comments must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. on June 28, 2019.  Individuals are encouraged to submit written comments as soon as possible.  Persons offering written comments at the meeting must have two copies for the hearing officer.

 

The full text of the proposed rules is available on the webpage at www.nmda.nmsu.edu and available at the New Mexico Department of Agriculture, located at 3190 S. Espina, Las Cruces, NM 88003.

 

If you are an individual with a disability who is in need of a reader, amplifier, qualified sign language interpreter, or any other form of auxiliary aid or service to attend or participate in the hearing or meeting, please contact NMDA at (575) 646-3702 at least one week prior to the meeting or as soon as possible.