Commissioner Wilton Simpson Announces Nearly 11,000 Hemp Products Removed for Violations of Child-Protection Standards in First Week of 'Operation Safe Summer'
~ Nearly 11,000 hemp packages removed for violations of child-protection standards for packaging, labeling, and marketing ~
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson today announced results from the first week of “Operation Safe Summer,” the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ inspection sweep of hemp retailers and manufacturers to ensure compliance with new child-protection standards for hemp products. “Operation Safe Summer” included inspections of hemp retailers and manufacturers in 20 Florida counties and removed nearly 11,000 packages of hemp products for violations of child-protection standards for packaging, labeling, and marketing.
“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,” said Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson. “We will not tire in our commitment to cleaning up this industry, holding violators accountable, and sending a clear message: if you refuse to follow the law, you won’t be doing business in Florida.”
FDACS issued announcements on April 3, 2025, and June 2, 2025, advising hemp food establishments on the planned enforcement of amendments to Rule 5K-4.034, Florida Administrative Code, which governs hemp and hemp extract intended for human consumption. Hemp food establishments are expected to ensure full compliance with these new requirements or face administrative action.
Key updates to the rule include:
- Prohibition on specified color additives.
- Mandatory child-resistant packaging in accordance with ASTM International D 3475-20, Standard Classification of Child Resistant Packages.
- Certificates of analysis must now include laboratory information, the concentration of total delta-9 THC, and confirm the presence or absence of prohibited substances and pathogens.
- Restrictions on marketing and advertising of hemp and hemp extract intended for human consumption.
- Enhanced labeling requirements, including the use of common household measurements for serving sizes and providing the scannable barcode or QR code must link to the certificate of analysis within three or fewer steps.
- Water activity for cannabis flower or leaves must be 0.60 (±0.05).
All previously existing rule requirements that were not amended on March 12, 2025, remain in effect and enforceable, including prohibitions on products and packaging that are attractive to children. Products deemed attractive to children include those shaped like, or packaged with imagery of, humans, animals, or cartoons.
Since July 1, 2023, the department has uncovered over 738,000 packages of hemp products in violation of child-protection standards.
During the 2023 legislative session, Commissioner Wilton Simpson worked with the Florida Legislature to reform Florida’s hemp laws to better protect consumers and children. SB 1676 added age requirements for the purchase of hemp products intended for human consumption, protected Florida’s minors by prohibiting marketing that targets children, protects consumers by mandating that products sold in Florida be packaged in a safe container, and holds hemp products that are ingested or inhaled to the same health and safety standards as other food products.
To enforce the new law, the department conducted the largest-ever inspection sweep of businesses selling products that contain hemp in July and August of 2023. The statewide inspection sweeps specifically targeted the sale of hemp products that are attractive and/or marketed to children, which is prohibited by Florida law. The sweep included inspections of more than 700 businesses in all 67 Florida counties and uncovered over 83,000 packages of hemp-extract products, including euphoric, high-potency THC products, targeting children.
For more information about Commissioner Simpson and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, visit FDACS.gov.
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