Providing Certificates of Analysis on Request
Did you know that cannabis retailers are required to provide Certificates of Analysis (COAs) when a customer asks for it for the products the retailer sells?
What is a COA?
COA stands for Certificate of Analysis and contains the results from tests required on all cannabis products in Washington State.
Certified labs must be certified to conduct the following types of testing:
- Water activity
- Potency analysis
- Foreign matter inspection
- Microbiological screening
- Mycotoxin screening
- Pesticide screening
- Residual solvent screening
- Certified labs may be certified for heavy metal testing
All of this information can be requested by a customer and must be provided by the retailer (WAC 314–55–105(10)).
Where Can You Access COAs?
Processers provide COAs, but the way they include this information with products differs. Some send a physical copy with the product, others have a web address where the information lives, and some use QR codes that take you directly to the report.
It is important for cannabis retail licensees to check for COAs that match the product they are receiving and confirm that the information on the COA matches the product label. This can help alleviate confusion and scrambling to find documents if a customer asks for the information.
Labeling Requirements
Additionally, products have information that is required to be on labels. Per WAC 31–55–105, cannabis concentrates and cannabis edibles in solid and liquid form, and useable cannabis must clearly and visibly provide the total THC and total CBD.
In addition to potency information mentioned above, there is additional information required to be accompanied with cannabis products including disclosing any pesticides used, chemicals compounds, additives, and terpenes added during or after production.
If the product has a medically compliant sticker, it is a best practice to check the COA for the product and make sure it has had the additional heavy metal testing.
Questions?
Knowledge is power and being able to provide this information to consumers is not only required, but it emphasizes public safety and promotes transparency to customers.
If you have any questions about labels or lab tests, do not hesitate to reach out to your compliance consultant.
