Commissioner Nikki Fried Proposals Unanimously Pass at NASDA Conference

Tallahassee, Fla. – Today, two initiatives proposed by Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried were passed unanimously by the full membership of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) at their virtual Winter Policy Conference. She also spoke in strong support of a hemp-related measure, adopted today among several other important policies backed by Commissioner Fried. The association’s voting membership includes the nation’s commissioners, secretaries, and directors of agriculture from each state.

Diversity & Inclusion: Commissioner Fried proposed that NASDA support and encourage State Departments of Agriculture to foster community partnerships to expand outreach to socially disadvantaged and BIPOC farmers and ranchers, enhance nutrition education, and promote urban agriculture as part of its commitment to diversity, inclusion, and racial equity in agriculture. Commissioner Fried has strongly supported increased diversity and equity in agriculture and at FDACS, appointing a Director of Diversity and Inclusion and a Diversity Work Group, making several key department policy changes, and asking President Biden and the USDA in her state-federal partnership plan to prioritize initiatives to promote minorities in agriculture and increase nutrition programs in schools and communities. FDACS oversees the $1.3 billion school nutrition program in Florida.

COVID-19 Disinfectants: Commissioner Fried proposed that NASDA request that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) determine whether a federal process is more appropriate than state exemptions for certain COVID-19 related disinfectant products, given the national nature of the pandemic versus regional. Section 18 exemptions are requested when emergency conditions jeopardize agriculture, the environment, or public health for which there are no effective registered products. Since August 2020, states including Florida have seen an increase in Section 18 requests, not from state or federal health agencies, but from disinfectant companies requesting to make certain claims about their disinfectants, while the EPA has already approved over 600 products that are effective against SARS-CoV-2. FDACS regulates the registration and use of pesticides and disinfectants in Florida.

Hemp THC Level: A policy amendment was proposed for NASDA to request that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) increase the THC limit for industrial hemp to 1 percent, up from the current 0.3 percent. The proposal passed unanimously, with Commissioner Fried speaking in full support of increasing the “arbitrary” THC cap. The USDA has received highly negative feedback on the 0.3 percent THC cutoff for hemp. FDACS oversees the state hemp program in Florida, including cultivation and consumer safety.

###