Independent third-party testing - assurance for you and your customers
Why is it necessary to test products?
The cannabis market is constantly expanding. While CBD dominated the supply until recently, products with new cannabinoids such as H4CBD, HHC, HHC-O, HHC-P, THCV and others are now being added at a dizzying rate.
This, of course, brings with it a greater risk of unfair practices by some manufacturers or traders. These practices include providing false information about the composition and efficacy of products or concealing the presence of harmful substances. The consequence is not only a threat to the reputation of retailers, but also to the health of consumers. The lack of control and the abundance of uncontrolled products on the market then harms the entire cannabis industry and leads to government intervention and restrictions.
That is why it is so important to know that the products you offer to customers are safe and of premium quality and that they are as advertised.
What is an independent third party?
An independent third party is defined as a laboratory that tests and verifies the ingredients and product claims made by the manufacturer.
Based on samples provided by the manufacturer (or other customer), the laboratory evaluates the composition, quality and safety and produces a "Certificate of Analysis" (COA). The COA includes the name of the laboratory, the date of analysis, the batch number, a listing of each ingredient tested, the test results and sometimes the method of testing.
What is tested?
Laboratories may test cannabis products in the form of dried flowers, cannabis extracts and concentrates, edibles or cosmetics, with slightly different sample preparation procedures required for each of these forms.
The most common tests are for the spectrum and concentration of cannabinoids and terpenes, as well as for the presence of solvents, pesticides, heavy metals and moulds.
Cannabinoids
It is essential to test for the presence of individual cannabinoids and their concentration, as this determines the potency of the product. The laboratory also checks that the product does not exceed the legal limit for the psychoactive cannabinoid delta-9 THC. For example, for full-spectrum CBD oils and drops, the permitted amount of THC is desirable, whereas broad-spectrum CBD oils and drops should not contain any THC.
Common methods for the analysis of cannabinoids include high-performance liquid chromatography with UV detection (HPLC-UV) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), which are also recommended for the determination of Δ9-THC concentrations in samples of industrial hemp.
Terpenes
Terpenes are aromatic compounds that are found (not only) in the cannabis plant and, in addition to imparting a specific smell and taste to cannabis, they also have specific effects and the ability to affect the body and mind. It has long been known that terpenes can interact with cannabinoids to enhance or complement their effects, a phenomenon known as the entourage effect.
Information on what terpenes a product contains can help consumers make a choice based on their needs. Terpenes are not present in isolates (e.g. CBD crystals) and are removed during the manufacturing process.
Heavy metals
Heavy metals build up in the human body and are carcinogens that disrupt the immune system and cause many serious diseases. Hemp has the ability to absorb and accumulate heavy metals from soil and water. There is a risk that hemp products in particular will be contaminated with these metals:
- arsenic
- lead
- mercury
- copper
- chromium
- cadmium
The quality of the soil is deteriorating in many parts of the planet and even in the case of cannabis that has been grown in an environmentally clean environment, there is no 100% certainty that it will not be contaminated. This is why third-party testing that can detect the presence of these substances and other toxins is so important. The most common analytical method used for this is a trace analytical method called inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) or an ultra-trace analytical method called inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), which is an analytical method used to determine the content of almost all elements.
Organic solvents
There are various ways of producing cannabis extracts and some still use chemical solvents such as butane or ethanol. If the concentrate is prepared by chemical extraction, there may be residual solvent in the final product.
A common way to test for residual solvents is gas chromatography analysis combined with flame ionization detection (GC-FID).
Biological contaminants
Cannabis can also be contaminated with various microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, parasites or fungi. These can both spoil the hemp product and cause health problems such as allergic reactions in customers. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and traditional microbiological techniques are often used to detect bacterial strains and toxins.
Final recommendations
Unfortunately, in the cannabis market, which is not yet highly regulated, mislabelled or 'misrepresented' products are also sold and presented - the information given about composition and potency does not correspond to reality. In such cases, third-party laboratory testing is the only way to verify purity and quality.
Make sure that you offer safe products to your customers and that the ingredients match what you advertise. If customers lose confidence in the goods you offer, you may not only lose your reputation, but also expose yourself to legal action and other inconveniences.
Purchase goods from trusted manufacturers/traders who provide laboratory analysis results. Also make sure that the certificate is up to date and always matches the batch number on the product. Be transparent yourself and publish the test results on the website.
Canatura prides itself on the quality and safety of the products it has tested by an independent third party. We publish the results of the analysis on the website for each product.
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