Commissioner Wilton Simpson Provides Update on ‘Operation Safe Summer’: Over 155,000 Illegal Hemp Packages Removed to Date

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson today announced updated results from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services' (FDACS) ongoing "Operation Safe Summer" enforcement sweep of hemp retailers and manufacturers across the state to ensure compliance with new child-protection standards for hemp products. In just the past two weeks, more than 70,000 packages of illegal hemp products have been removed, bringing the five-week total to over 155,000 packages removed for violations of Florida's child-protection standards for packaging, labeling, and marketing.

"In just five weeks, we've removed more than 155,000 illegal hemp packages from store shelves, and it should serve as a wake-up call to any businesses putting profits over the safety of our children and communities," said Commissioner Wilton Simpson. "This is not a one-time sweep - we are committed to a sustained crackdown on these illegal products and will aggressively pursue bad actors until the hemp industry gets the message."

Since July 1, 2023, the department has removed over 800,000 packages of hemp products in violation of child-protection standards since Florida's hemp laws were reformed.

Updated "Operation Safe Summer" Enforcement Totals:

• Week 1: 38,861 packages removed
• Week 2: 40,796 additional packages removed
• Week 3: 6,024 additional packages removed
• Week 4: 48,195 additional packages removed
• Week 5: 22,056 additional packages removed
• Total to date: Over 155,932 illegal hemp packages removed

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.

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 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.

###

Press Releases

• 2025 Press Releases
• 2024 Press Releases
• 2023 Press Releases

Media Inquiries