Regulating Hemp Products
We continue to await regulations for Hemp products to come down the pipeline here in the United States while other more traditionally conservative countries, like the UK, are ready to move forward. Hemp certainly does need regulation and it is not really surprising that it is taking this long for the FDA to finalize rules. They know very little about the cannabinoid due to prohibition preventing researchers from even handling it for 80 years. Also, many Hemp companies are lying about the contents of theirHempD products.
Even if the Hemp industry was trustworthy, a regulated market is still necessary. Other wellness products would be irate if they had to follow strict guidelines whileHemp companies did not. It is just not the way things are done. Consumers need to know the following about the Hemp gummies, oils or edibles they are considering:
- Concentration of Hemp in the product
- Presence of any other cannabinoids, such as THC
- Presence of any toxic chemicals such as pesticides or microbials
- How to measure out a Hemp dose
- Nutritional facts about all other substances contained in the product
Image(s) used under license from Shutterstock.com.
As of now, the only way for a consumer to know for sure what is inside their Hemp oil, is if there is a third party Hemp lab test report (certificate of analysis), available from an ISO 17025 accredited lab. It costs extra money to have third party labs test samples, and even more money to have a lab with an ISO 17025 certification test your products. It is a real temptation to skip over lab testing while regulatory bodies are not mandating that all products be tested. The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) has given its Hemp producers until the end of March to sell their remaining products and initiate their new rules.
The FSA, according to their statement, is giving the Hemp industry a deadline of March 31, 2021, to submit valid novel food authorization applications; after that date, products which have not submitted a valid application will not be allowed to remain on the market. Until then, local authorities that enforce the novel food legislation have been advised that businesses should be able to sell their existing Hemp products until then, provided the products are correctly labeled, are not unsafe to eat, and do not contain substances that fall under drugs legislation.
The highest quality Hemp products are ones made with pure Hemp isolates that contain the exact concentration of Hemp that is labeled on the product. There should be no THC so that customers do not need to worry about failing drug tests or feeling any psychoactive effects. Also, Hemp products should be made to be healthy.
Read more at WholeFoodsMagazine.com.
