NACB NATIONAL STANDARDS
Lab Testing and Product Integrity

Article 4. Lab Testing and Product Integrity

Definitions

(1) “THC” means tetrahydrocannabinol, and, with regard to flower or concentrate, is intended to mean the effective THC, which is the amount of THC plus amount of THCa after decarboxylation.

(2) “Finished Cannabis or Cannabis Product” means Cannabis or a Cannabis Product that is in its final form before being transferred to a Retailer or consumer.

(3) “Contaminant” includes heavy metals, mycotoxins, pesticides, solvents, and microbial impurities, with the exact applications to various product types to be determined by State requirements and additional Standards as may be adopted.

(4) “Potency Testing” includes testing for the presence and amount of THC, CBD, other cannabinoids, and certain terpenes.

(5) “Homogeneity Testing” means testing performed on a Cannabis Product to determine the uniformity of THC concentration, other cannabinoid concentration, or terpene concentration throughout the Cannabis Product.

Standard 4.01. Potency Variance.

1. A sample of Cannabis or Cannabis Product fails Potency Testing if the concentration of THC in the sample deviates from the concentration of THC claimed on the label of the Cannabis or Cannabis Product by plus or minus 10% or more.
2. If the label of the Cannabis or Cannabis Product includes a claim that the Cannabis or Cannabis Product contains a particular amount or concentration of any particular cannabinoid (such as cannabidiol (CBD) cannabinol (CBN), or cannabigerol (CBG), but not THC), a sample from the Cannabis or Cannabis Product fails Potency Testing if the concentration of that cannabinoid in the sample deviates from the concentration of the cannabinoid claimed on the label by plus or minus 15% or more.

Standard 4.02. Laboratory Independence.

1. A Cannabis Establishment shall not contract with any testing laboratory to perform Contaminant Testing, Homogeneity Testing, or Potency Testing that is required by law or these Standards if the Cannabis Establishment has a financial interest in or controlling
   position with that testing laboratory.
2. As used in Standard 4.02, “financial interest,” means an equity
   ownership, debt ownership, or any rights to profits of the testing laboratory.
3. As used in Standard 4.02 “controlling position,” means any position which confers the legal right to control or manage the business of the testing laboratory, including being an officer or director or the testing laboratory, a partner in a testing laboratory that is organized as a partnership, or a member in a cannabis business that is organized as a limited liability company.

Standard 4.03. Laboratory Accreditation.

1. A Cannabis Establishment shall not contract with any testing laboratory to perform Contaminant Testing, Homogeneity Testing, or Potency Testing that is required by law or these Standards unless the lab has received ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation for the relevant methodologies required by state law and this Standard, or accreditation under a comparable standard, such as those developed by The NELAC Institute (TNI).
2. If the state in which a Cannabis Establishment is licensed does not contain any testing laboratories that satisfy the accreditation requirement of Standard 4.03(a), that Standard shall not apply.

Standard 4.04. Contaminant Testing and Claims.

1. A Cannabis Establishment shall not make any statement, including in its packaging, labeling, advertising, or during the sales process, regarding Contaminant levels in its Cannabis or Cannabis Products, unless such statement has been reasonably
   verified and confirmed by testing at a laboratory satisfying these Standards. For reference, this includes claims that Cannabis or a Cannabis Product is “pesticide free,” “chemical free,” or similar statements.
2. Such statements shall also conform with Packaging and Labeling Standard 2.12 and Advertising Standard 3.03, prohibiting false or misleading statements, and with Advertising Standard 3.04(b), prohibiting claims that Cannabis or Cannabis Products are “safe” because they have undergone laboratory testing.

Standard 4.05. Effective Date.

A Cannabis Establishment shall comply with the requirements of this Article beginning on the 120th day after the date this Article is finally adopted by the National Association of Cannabis Businesses (NACB) or its membership in the NACB, whichever is later.