Cannabis Control Commission Issues New Order On Testing Methods

Administrative order is part of a series of recent efforts to improve testing regulations

WORCESTER –The Cannabis Control Commission (Commission) has effectuated an administrative order requiring all licensed Independent Testing Labs (ITLs) to upload digital Certificates of Analysis (COA) after every product test to document methods labs use to test products in compliance with regulations.

Under Commission regulations, ITLs must be accredited by the International Organization for Standardization and use ISO/IEC 17025 for testing and calibrating laboratories. The state’s 11 operating ITLs, however, may use different analytical techniques to test products for contaminants and cannabinoid content. Today’s administrative order mandates that labs upload COAs that include descriptions of testing techniques and any remediation steps to the state’s seed-to-sale tracking system, METRC. 

Adult- and medical-use retailers will also have immediate access to the COAs through METRC, and consumers will be able access the documents from either retailers or the Commission by request.

“This order will set a new industry-wide standard in Massachusetts that will help the Commission increase transparency in the product testing process and better protect public health and safety,” Executive Director Travis Ahern said. “Our testing regulations are strong, but the Commission is always looking for new ways to improve and expand them, including other recent orders on test samples and the release of testing data.”

“Today is a great day for public health and testing transparency in the Massachusetts cannabis industry. This administrative order ensures consumers and patients alike will have access to consistent, clear, and convenient testing and product information to help make informed decisions about which products are best for them.” Commissioner Kimberly Roy said. “Mandating industry-wide Certificates of Analysis represents yet another important step towards improving and standardizing product testing in the regulated market.”

This new administrative order follows other recent mandates that the Commission has ordered to improve and standardize product testing, including:

• Requiring licensed adult- and medical-use cannabis businesses to submit one test sample package to a single ITL for all compliance testing in accordance with the agency’s regulations and testing protocols. The clarification moves away from past practice of allowing licensees to select more than one ITL to perform required testing. 

• Publishing test results for THC% and THCA% to the agency’s Open Data platform. 

• Entering into agreements with ITLs to function as reference labs for the Commission on an as-needed basis.

Additional information about agency orders, bulletins, frequently asked questions, notices, and related interpretations that pertain to licensee compliance issues can be found on the Enforcement Announcements page on the agency’s website. 

Additional information is available by visiting MassCannabisControl.com, by contacting the Commission by phone (774-415-0200) or email (Commission@CCCMass.com), or following the agency on Facebook, LinkedIn, and X. 

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