Regulated cannabis plans in UK and EU backed by Chem ID and other industry bodies
20 Jun 2023 --- The Association for the Cannabinoid Industry (ACI) and the Centre for Medicinal Cannabis (CMC) have partnered with Chem ID to improve the authenticity and quality of commercial cannabis extract and medical cannabis markets in the UK and Europe.
The ACI and CMC have strategically aligned with Chem ID, a cloud-based data platform that provides chemical data standardization, validation and traceability solutions. The platform offers a solution that ensures the integrity and security of chemical data.
“By utilizing Chem ID's technology, stakeholders in the cannabis industry can track and verify the origin and movement of cannabis products throughout the supply chain. This helps to prevent counterfeit or adulterated products from entering the market,” Alex Andrawes, CEO of Chem ID tells Nutrition Insight.
“The technology enables ACI and CMC members to implement rigorous quality control measures. Chem ID is able to track the utilization of standardized testing methods, and therefore able to produce enhanced data analysis via an assortment of AI algorithms.”
This can ensure that products meet the required quality standards, including accurate cannabinoid profiles, absence of contaminants, and consistent dosing.
More than half of the EU population is in favor of legal, government-regulated cannabis product sales to adults, according to a continent-wide poll. The report carried out by Hanway Associates reveals that out of 9,043 adults surveyed, 55% supported legal recreational cannabis, 20% were indifferent and the remaining 25% were opposed.
A regulated retail offering is the least controversial option amongst supporters of legal recreational cannabis, with 81% in favor. Of all the respondents in the poll, 48% support regulated retail stores.
CBD supply chain transparency
Chem ID's cloud-based data platform offers a comprehensive solution that ensures the integrity and security of chemical data.
By using Chem ID’s tech, ACI and CMC promotes consumer, retailer, regulator, patient and prescribers’ confidence in the rapidly growing cannabis industry. The company uses chemical data management solutions leveraging AI tools to improve product development, process flow, risk reduction, improving cost efficiencies and future-proofing.
“One major issue is the lack of transparency and accountability in the supply chain. The partnership addresses this by providing a centralized hub for chemical data communication. This facilitates standardized and secure information exchange, reducing the risk of unauthorized alterations or misrepresentations,” explains Andrawes.
Another major loophole is the lack of enforcement with regards to the utility of standardized testing. “If an industry or governing body is unable to enforce the use of standardized testing, then a benchmark or baseline doesn’t exist, and therefore product labeling becomes vague,” he says.
Chem ID uses software to detect the use of standardized testing in the chemical data management process. The presence of unreliable product claims and mislabeling is another problem in the sector.
“In other markets, this problem is widespread, often affecting up to 80-90% of products placed on store shelves, with inconsistencies ranging from 30-80% of stated label claims regarding cannabinoid and terpene content,” says Andrawes.
Around three-quarters of cannabidiol (CBD) products in the UK are tainted with illegal substances, according to an investigation by Kent Scientific Services. In the 61 products tested, 71% contained at least one psychoactive element of cannabis.
Apart from the 44 samples with psychoactive elements of cannabis, several products had lower CBD levels than mentioned on the packaging, and two products did not contain any CBD, even though it claimed it did. Additionally, two contained products that were not on the list.
“By leveraging Chem ID’s technology, we can provide our members with the tools necessary to meet regulatory requirements and drive the growth of the legal cannabis extract market,” explains Dr. Parveen Bhatarah, regulatory and compliance associate at ACI. The Centre for Medicinal Cannabis plays a vital role in advocating for positive reform within the UK’s nascent medical cannabis industry. “At CMC, we are constantly striving to advance the standards and regulations surrounding medical cannabis,” says Professor Trevor Jones, chief scientific advisor at CMC.
“Through our partnership with Chem ID, we aim to further solidify our commitment to ensuring product integrity and quality for the benefit of patients who are prescribed CBPMs (cannabis-based products for medicinal use).”
Stakeholder empowerment
ACI and CMS will use Chem ID’s technology to promote consumer confidence in the cannabis industry.
Chem ID’s hardware-agnostic approach empowers various stakeholders in the cannabis industry, such as brand owners, analytical labs, processors, contract manufacturers, farmers, distributors, logistical providers and regulators.
The cloud-based platform offers a centralized hub for chemical data, facilitating standardized and secure communication across the supply chain.
“Our solution is backed by a decade of extensive involvement within the cannabis testing ecosystem. This experience allows us to offer unparalleled expertise in regulatory and commercial aspects, understanding what truly works and what doesn’t work,” adds Alex Andrawes, CEO of Chem ID.
Factors that make some cannabis products unreliable include inconsistent quality, variability in potency, and the presence of contaminants. “ACI, CMC and Chem ID intend to address these discrepancies by implementing standardized quality assurance protocols and testing methodologies. This will help ensure consistent product quality, accurate dosing, and the absence of harmful substances,” Andrawes explains.
As the CBD space proliferates amid consumer demands ranging from immunity to mood, the industry observes a rise in alternatives. Companies are eager to experiment with different formats, as R&D aims to drive innovation forward.
Meanwhile, several UK government departments want to educate the food industry and individuals in official control laboratories about CBD in food supplements.
By Inga de Jong
