By Anastasia Myronenko
The term CBD is the abbreviation for cannabidiol — an organic chemical compound that is naturally found in cannabis. These substances interact with the endocannabinoid system – a complicated system in which they participate in the regulation of various physiological and cognitive processes in the human body. Each of the cannabinoids has a different effect on this system, and researchers are still trying to find out their exact properties. The most famous compound is THC – the main psychoactive component of cannabis, which causes a “high”, that is often associated with marijuana, another type of Cannabis sativa plant family. Meanwhile, CBD is a compound that occupies a prominent place in the plant; however, unlike THC, it is not psychotropic. Some studies show that it neutralises THC and may have antipsychotic properties.
This industry is extremely unregulated, which leads to the fact that CBD producers unethically inflate or otherwise deceive the customers about the content of CBD in their products. Other companies even sell products that could be contaminated with heavy metals, pesticides, or other harmful ingredients. Finding quality CBD products is a challenge even for the most knowledgeable customers.
This is where third-party testing comes into the picture. The whole purpose of third-party or independent laboratory testing is to provide an objective analysis of CBD products. These tests are used to determine the quality, purity and effectiveness of a CBD sample.
Laboratory testing is an integral part of the legal environment encircling cannabis. Today, any cannabis product that you buy from a licensed institution must pass a series of tests in a state-accredited laboratory. These tests help ensure that oils are safe and easy to dose.
Laboratory tests primarily check for activity and levels of THC and CBD, residual pesticides, unwanted contaminants, and the presence of mycotoxins. Additional measurements can also be performed to measure the terpene content, but are not required. Each test requires special equipment and procedures, and should be carried out by carefully trained and licensed specialists.
At the moment, in the world, there is no single tool for classifying products with CBD content. And this is a problem because the consumer does not know whether the product he or she is going to purchase has been certified. So, the objective question arises: how does the manufacturer decide to buy this or that raw material for their products? And to answer this question, we will talk about commercial laboratory tests, and one of the most potent methods of product regulation – COA (Certificate of Analysis).
What is a Certificate of Analysis (COA)?
It is a document that is used to verify that the CBD products that have been put on the market meet specific parameters, mainly of a physicochemical nature, such as composition, humidity, acidity and others that comply with the contractual conditions. It can be issued by a certification body (appointed by the exporter or importer) or by the exporter’s laboratories when trusting relationships between the parties have already been established. The analysis can be performed at the factory or warehouse of the exporter or at the point of shipment. This is usually done on samples that represent a certain percentage of the total volume of goods.
If we have to highlight just one thing that you need to understand and that is of utmost importance when purchasing CBD products, it is the certificate of analysis. You should not buy a product that is not subject to competent certification. And if you see a product that does not have this certificate in the public access, or if the manufacturer doesn’t provide them on request, then you should not waste your time and money on this brand.
Why is COA so important? Hemp, of course, is a bioaccumulator, which means it quickly absorbs substances from the earth. This may include pesticides and other harmful chemicals. The extraction method used by the CBD company can also affect the quality of its products: some extraction methods and carrier oils can lead to the formation of volatile, unstable products or unsafe chemical residues.
As an example, a full-fledged product certificate was used, which reflects all the necessary components that should be present in the report.
Header
This is the COA header. It shows some information about the legality of the report. The first thing you always have to do is make sure that the COA has a date. Many companies that show you a certificate of analysis will often include monthly reports. Old COAs indicate that the company does not conduct regular tests, or recent tests were not appropriate enough to be shared publicly. The title will also show for which product the certificate of authenticity has been prepared.
In most cases, this should match the name of the company selling the product. An exception to this rule is when a company receives white labelling of its products from another company. Finally, you must ensure that the product name in the certificate of authenticity matches the product to which it is attached.
This COA section is usually located in the header section, and shows details about the cannabinoids that are present in this product. If the heading is okay, we can move on to the actual cannabinoid profile. This is a section of the certificate that will tell you what is in the product. Please note that most COA will display the content in milligrams per gram. First things first, let’s see how to make sure that the product complies with THC content. Legally, CBD products must contain