The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) now offers a hemp reference material (RM) that will help hemp testing laboratories accurately measure core compounds in hemp and cannabis plant products. This development is a significant new opportunity for the hemp industry because hemp testing laboratories can now access an impartial, traceable, science-based sample—the first benchmark for quality of its kind.
The RM will assist labs in correctly measuring the amount of major cannabinoids, heavy metals including arsenic, lead, mercury, and cadmium, and other compounds found in hemp. Based on those results, laboratories can assess the accuracy of their test results and improve their processes and methods.
The Importance of Accurate Hemp Test Results
Accurate test results are critical for hemp farmers, law enforcement and regulatory agencies, hemp product manufacturers, consumers, and many other individuals and organizations.
Without accurate results, farmers can needlessly lose crops that are incorrectly determined to be above the 0.3% THC federal limit on hemp. These crops are seized by law enforcement and destroyed, negatively impacting the livelihood of farmers. In 2019, it was reported in 16 states alone, 4,309 acres of hemp out of 179,000 acres was destroyed.
Increased accuracy of test results in a forensic laboratory can reduce law enforcement incorrectly prosecuting individuals accused of a crime.
Another important aspect of accurate test results is the safety and wellbeing of consumers who use hemp products including textiles, soaps and lotions, CBD products like gummies and tinctures, and more. Inaccurate testing could cause consumers to be exposed to dangerous levels of toxic heavy metals, like lead and arsenic. Accurate testing and labels are of particular importance to people who use hemp and CBD products for medicinal purposes or take medications that could potentially cause harmful interactions.
About the NIST RM
The reference material is produced from commercially acquired dried hemp, which is then sieved and blended to test under the 0.3% THC limit. Researchers precisely measure the amount of THC and other compounds in the material and NIST statisticians analyze the measurement results to include uncertainty estimates for each element.
According to NIST, “Each unit of the material contains three packets with 1.5 grams each of ground hemp — some of the most carefully quantified cannabis ever sold.”
Influence on the Industry
The NIST hemp RM offers the hemp industry a science-backed quality control tool that benefits growers, manufacturers, sellers, and customers. It builds confidence in the validity of test results and provides a national benchmark for quality.
The RM has also been embraced by the National Industrial Hemp Council (NIHC), an organization whose mission is to empower the hemp industry and advocate for an international regulatory framework to boost consumer confidence, streamline trade, and foster innovation exchange.
“NIHC welcomes the NIST reference materials as an opportunity for hemp laboratories to validate the accuracy of their testing methods and procedures, and to align them with an internationally recognized standards body,” said Lakshmy Mahon, Executive Vice President of the NIHC Verify Program, a recognition accreditation program for hemp testing laboratories.
The NIHC Verify program is recognized by the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) and is intended to move the industry towards consistent laboratory testing practices. The program is operated by NIHC in partnership with the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA), a global non-profit accreditation body.
There are currently no federal laws establishing a universal standard for testing consumable hemp in the United States. However, the Verify program promotes and supports testing transparency, standards requirements, consumer confidence, and product safety. The innovative program moves the industry towards consistent laboratory testing practices thereby promoting consumer safety and strengthening the commercial trade.
The program is a crucial initiative given the significant role hemp plays in supporting tens of thousands of jobs across the United States. Existing shortcomings in federal law hinder its full potential and threaten its status as a U.S. commodity.
Verify Program Membership
An NIHC Verify membership signifies to customers and stakeholders that an organization is committed to globally accepted laboratory standards, promoting consumer safety and confidence. The program requirements integrate A2LA ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accreditation with testing for common contaminants found in hemp products. For new members entering the program, the membership fee is reduced to $325 per year for the first two years.
A Verify membership also has the potential to save hemp testing laboratories money in the long run by reducing organizational risk and staving off additional regulations in the future. Investing into consumer safety lowers the risk of consumer side effects and complaints related to contaminated product. If regulators see laboratories collectively testing to RMs that are developed by highly skilled and qualified scientists and chemists, they may not see the need to add more regulations.
The RM will also potentially increase business opportunities for hemp testing laboratories because it expands their abilities to test beyond cannabinoid content. They can become accredited to test for things like heavy metals and pesticides as well.
The Future of the Industry
The NIST RM and NIHC Verify program have great potential to work in conjunction and improve the quality and consistency of hemp testing laboratory test results across the country. Improving quality creates confidence in the industry, protects consumers, and holds the possibility of streamlining regulations in the future.
By investing in quality, hemp farmers and textile producers benefit by reducing instances of crop seizures. Continual improvement in laboratories supports the efficacy of the United States justice system and strengthen the many markets the hemp industry touches.
Many hemp laboratories have already joined the Verify program, including Scissortail Laboratory, located in Oklahoma City.
“Scissortail Laboratory is excited to join the Hemp Verify program as a step toward ensuring basic product safety for end users of hemp-derived products,” said Sarah Cameron, Operations Manager and CoFounder at Scissortail Laboratory. “By choosing to test their products with an accredited laboratory, our customers have shown a commitment to self-regulation and to providing excellent products that the end users can trust. Displaying the Hemp Verify logo on their products allows our customers to show their commitment to quality and set their brands apart from others in the industry.”
If you are a hemp testing laboratory interested in becoming an NIHC Verify program member, visit https://nihc-verify.org.