The CBD industry is growing, with no signs of slowing down. And while this is (overall) excellent news, it's becoming increasingly harder to find high-quality CBD. Reality is: all CBD is not created the same.
You’ve probably heard the term “third-party testing” a billion times, if not more; this phrase is used in most CBD companies’ marketing. But it’s not just marketing jargon or empty lip service. When a company makes the claim that they utilize a third-party for testing, you know they know they mean business.
Third-party testing is a vital piece of the puzzle when it comes to determining what CBD products you should be using. Here, we’re explaining what third-party testing means, why it’s important, and some of the things you should look for when looking at a company’s lab reports or certificate of analysis (COA).
Here at Selene, we specifically designed our magical products to be good for you and good for our planet—and we have lab reports to prove it.
A Brief History of Hemp
In 2018, Congress passed the updated Farm Bill. When this happened, CBD was (finally!) removed from the list of scheduled drugs. Additionally, the new federal bill also allowed for the farming of “industrial hemp”—a cannabis plant that contains .3% or less THC. Under these new guidelines, CBD is no longer lumped together with the federal definition of marijuana.
The problem is, when this happened, it opened the floodgates for companies to make and produce CBD products. In this new and still wildly-unregulated Wild West, this means that anyone and their brother can start a CBD company and sell “CBD” products that contain who-knows-what.
This is where testing comes in.
What Are Third-Party Tests?
Simply put, a third-party test is a process where a third (private) party conducts a thorough, unbiased analysis of a certain product—in this case, a CBD product.
This method of third-party lab testing provides a source of neutral, unbiased information about a company or a product. With independent, third-party tests, companies can’t publish false information or alter test results. It puts honesty and transparency in the driver’s seat and allows you to be able to make the most informed decision when it comes to your health.
What is a COA?
In the CBD industry, it's not uncommon to see a certificate of analysis (COA) for every batch. Certificates are important because they ensure that you're getting exactly what you paid for and that it’s both safe and effective.
COAs can be issued by third-party labs or by in-house labs; whichever option your company chooses, make sure that its standards are up to date with cGMP guidelines.
Check out our third-party COAs here.
Why is CBD Third-Party Testing So Important?
The insane growth we’re seeing in the CBD industry has flooded the market with a shocking amount of low-quality “wellness” products sourced from overseas—or from biomass facilities sourced from hundreds of unknown farms.With a lack of federal regulation, there is no standardized process for testing CBD. To counter this, many reputable CBD companies adhere to the strictest guidelines and provide third-party test results.
We’ve got high standards… you should, too! One way we maintain these standards is by sending our products straight from the farm where they’re made to an independent, third-party lab. Therefore, our full line of products is tested for pesticides, heavy metals, yeast, mold, pathogenic bacteria, mycotoxins, volatile organic compounds, and potency.
We provide a COA for every single batch, to ensure product safety and efficacy. If you’d like to download our updated third-party COA, please click on one of the links below:
This might go without saying, but when it comes to trying new plant medicine (especially if hemp is involved) it’s important to address any questions or concerns you might have before diving in.
If you want to learn more about our products, how they’re made, or what you can expect, email us at hello@weareselene.com OR head to our blog for more on CBD and the power of plant-based wellness.