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A recent round of tests among CBD products on the European market uncovered several deficiencies, according to the International Cannabis and Cannabinoids Institute (ICCI), which recently performed the second such independent sampling this year.
ICCI performed the assessment of 35 products under ISO 17025 standards in cooperation with the first European laboratory certified under the Patient Focused Care (PFC) regime, administered by the Department of Food Analysis and Nutrition of the University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague. (VŠCHT).
THC risk levels
ICCI said 9 samples in the latest round of testing had THC levels “involving risk,” while only 10 samples reviewed had correct labels on their packaging regarding THC content. Thirty samples fulfilled requirements concerning CBD content, according to ICCI.
Excessive THC content in the blood after using CBD oils represents unexpected risks for customers, said Pavel Kubů, ICCI managing director. Even relatively low amounts of THC can cause changes in perception, and can threaten consumers’ capacity to drive and make decisions in general, ICCI noted.
Potential problems
“People don’t know that they have in their bodies a strictly controlled substance, and may, therefore, run into problems not only during traffic accidents but also in employment relationships,”Kubů said.
Drivers testing positive for THC during traffic stops run the risk of losing their driving licenses and other potential legal problems, the Institute warned.
The study for the first time applied European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) standards that looked at how much THC can a person take daily without risk. Twenty samples were in compliance with the limit of 1 microgram per kilogram of body weight, ICCI noted.
Previous test
Results of an ICCI study released last spring revealed only 9 of 29 European CBD oils proved “satisfactory” when tested for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) — classified as carcinogens. At the time, the Prague-based group issued a “Warning for consumers of CBD and cannabis oils sold on the EU market.”
Only 9 of those identified as “satisfactory” in that first round of testing have remained on the market. Of those 9 samples, 4 did not fulfill the CBD declaration. After consulting with ICCI, they all made improvements, the Institute noted, reflecting not only the importance of independent testing but also of the need to educate producers.
Prague-based ICCI offers public information aimed at assuring consumer safety. It is a joint effort among patient organizations, Czech scientific societies and the American investment firm Dioscorides Global Holdings. The Institute works with the University of Chemistry and Technology Prague, Charles University, Czech Technical University, the Czech University of Life Sciences (Prague), Masaryk University and Mendel University both of Brno, Palacký University in Olomouc; and Hebrew University in Jerusalem.