4 Steps To Cannabis Product Testing in Canada

In the evolving Canadian cannabis industry, the importance of rigorous cannabis product testing has become a cornerstone for success.

As licensed cannabis producers navigate the competitive and tightly regulated market, understanding the critical role of laboratory testing is essential. This process is not just a compliance formality but a key aspect in maintaining product quality, ensuring consumer safety, and upholding industry standards.

Whether it’s meeting the stringent requirements of Health Canada or addressing the sophisticated demands of today’s consumers, effective cannabis product testing is a vital part of any successful cannabis operation in Canada.

Why Perform Cannabis Product Testing?

There are several reasons why lab testing is crucial for cannabis products.

1. Compliance with Regulatory Standards

In Canada, adherence to the Cannabis Act and Health Canada’s Good Production Practices (GPP) is non-negotiable for cannabis producers. These regulations mandate thorough testing of every batch by an accredited third-party laboratory.

This is essential to ascertain safe human consumption levels, with specific limits set for pesticides, microbiology, moisture, cannabinoid potency, and more. Accurate labeling of THC and CBD content is also a legal requirement, underscoring the importance of precise testing.

2. Mitigating Business Risks

One significant misstep in product quality can lead to drastic consequences like product recalls, which are not only costly but can also damage a brand’s reputation.

Regular and comprehensive lab testing throughout your whole supply chain helps prevent such mishaps, ensuring that products meet both regulatory and consumer standards.

3. Maintaining Product Consistency

Cannabis is known for its variable composition, which can differ from plant to plant and harvest to harvest.

Consistent product quality is key to consumer trust and brand loyalty. Detailed analytical testing, including potency and terpene profiles, helps maintain consistency and identify any deviations before products reach the market.

4. Building Consumer Trust and Loyalty

Comprehensive analytical testing of cannabis products can help you attract today’s discerning consumers. They want to know everything that goes into their bodies.

Think of everything that goes into your products:

• Where are the ingredients sourced?
• Are they safe?
• In what quantities are they used?

The modern consumer wants answers to all these questions. Comprehensive analytical testing can help assure the consumer that you know what you are doing and that the product is safe for consumption. 

Choosing the Right Lab for Cannabis Product Testing

The choice of a laboratory partner is a pivotal decision for any cannabis producer. Here are 4 key factors to consider when selecting a lab for your cannabis products:

1.  Expertise and Accreditation 

Selecting the right cannabis testing laboratory is the most critical step in ensuring your cannabis products are accurately tested. It’s not just about proximity; specialized equipment and skilled personnel are essential for high-quality cannabis testing.

A lab that excels in these areas will play a pivotal role in safeguarding your brand, complying with regulatory standards, and ensuring the quality and consistency of your products.

Look for a lab that prides itself on transparency and a strong foundation in scientific principles. This approach minimizes product liability risks and enhances trust in their testing processes.

The ideal lab should balance multiple factors, including…

• Scientific expertise
• Competitive turnaround times
• Reliability
• Accuracy
• Quality

While competitive pricing is important, it shouldn’t be the sole criterion for your decision. Insist on working with a lab that employs validated testing methods. It’s advisable to ask detailed questions about their validation procedures and, if possible, review a sample of their validation reports.

2. Understand The Product You Want Lab Tested

There are different requirements and tests for different products. For example, some jurisdictions limit how much THC some extracts, such as CBD hemp oil, can contain. Similarly, if you are designing a THC-free or a pure cannabinoid product, you need to be aware of the tests that form requires.

Health Canada also has different test requirements for different products – meaning the tests may vary for oils, dry flower, concentrates, edibles, and e-liquids. Understanding your cannabis product makes the lab testing process easier and makes communication with the lab smoother.

3. Define Batches And Samples

A batch is a set of plants or products grown or produced under the same condition at the same time. All items in one batch should have approximately similar characteristics.

Under the cannabis act and GPPs, cannabis sampling should be conducted in accordance with the European Pharmacopeia section 2.8.20. This document provides guidance on the number of samples needed and the minimum mass of each. The sample is what is tested to estimate the characteristics of the whole batch.

We provide more detail on proper cannabis sampling techniques here.

4. Determine the Required Tests

Laboratories have a huge menu of tests they can perform on each matrix, and it’s up to you to decide what you need. There is a basic regulatory framework on the tests required for various cannabis formats, but these should be treated as the minimum.

The regulatory framework requires tests that ensure consumers’ safety, such as cannabinoid potency and pesticide contamination and residues. However, the consumer is also interested in what the product offers. The consumer may want to see tests on the terpene profile and concentrations of trace cannabinoids as these affect the product’s effectiveness and overall experience.

Cannabis Product Testing with Industry Experts

Lab testing is a cornerstone of excellence in the cannabis industry. Selecting the right lab partner – emphasizing expertise, transparency, efficiency, comprehensive services, and value – is crucial for ensuring product safety, quality, and regulatory compliance.

A commitment to thorough testing is not just about meeting standards; it’s about building trust and setting your brand apart in a competitive market. Make lab testing a defining feature of your cannabis products, enhancing consumer confidence and securing your brand’s reputation.

Do you have an inquiry or comment regarding cannabis testing? Contact us today, and one of our team members will get in touch.