Analysis of consumer cannabis

Your experts for comprehensive consumer cannabis analysis

July 2024. With the publication of the Cannabis Act in Germany, new requirements were issued for cannabis products from cannabis social clubs. In addition to the declaration of the average tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) content, it is now mandatory to test the products for pesticides, mycotoxins, heavy metals and microorganisms. Our experts at the Eurofins Food & Feed Testing laboratories in Germany are at your side as a competent partner for consumer cannabis analysis and will be happy to support you. Get in contact with us.

Hemp as a crop plant

Hemp (Cannabis sativa) is one of the oldest cultivated plants. Due to the presence of the so-called cannabinoids, its preparations have been used as medicines and narcotics since ancient times. Industrially, its fibres are also used in the production of textiles. The seeds of the hemp plant are practically free of cannabinoids and are used to produce edible oils and protein powders for food production. The leaves and flowers of the hemp plant, on the other hand, contain over 100 different cannabinoids as secondary phytometabolites. Of the psychoactive cannabinoids, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) is the most important component. Other cannabinoids, such as cannabidiol (CBD), are thought to have health-promoting effects.

Our analysis and service portfolio for cannabis for consumption

Eurofins is currently in the approval process to be designated as a laboratory for consumer cannabis analysis. As soon as the authorisation has been granted, you will have access to a comprehensive range of analytical tests for consumer cannabis to meet the requirements of the new legislation:

The analysis of pesticide residues is very important for cannabis products due to their use in cultivation. The monitoring of pesticide residues is an important measure to monitor good professional practice and to be prepared for future maximum residue limits.

Analyses for mycotoxins are also advisable. Mycotoxins can be formed by moulds, e.g. during growth in the field or by improper storage.

In addition, we also support you in analysing heavy metals in your consumer cannabis products. Contamination with heavy metals is generally influenced by the local environmental conditions and the flowering and growth promoters used. Since hemp is a plant that absorbs and accumulates heavy metals very well, this analysis should not be dispensed with, especially since inhalation increases the lung-damaging effect of many metals.

We also offer microbiological analyses to check compliance with future limit values.

Legal classification

In March 2024, the German Bundestag passed the Cannabis Act (CanG), which came into force in April 2024. With this law, the narcotic status for cannabis is no longer applicable in Germany and a distinction is only made between industrial hemp (THC content < 0.3 %), consumer cannabis and medicinal cannabis. Section 1 of the CanG also explains what is defined as cannabis. Synthetic THC continues to fall under the Narcotic Drugs Act (BtMG).

Questions about the analysis of consumer cannabis?

Do you have questions about the analysis of consumer cannabis? Contact your personal account manager or get in touch with our experts.

Eurofins Food Legislation News

The Eurofins Food Legislation News is published every two months and focuses on innovations in food law and interesting court rulings. Here you will also find, among other things, useful information and news on cannabis for consumption and foods containing hemp as well as a selected overview of important RASFF rapid alerts.

Relevant legal bases and guidelines

• Bundesgesetzblatt Teil I - Gesetz zum kontrollierten Umgang mit Cannabis und zur Änderung weiterer Vorschriften - Bundesgesetzblatt (Cannabis Act (CanG)) (in German)
• Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2015 on novel foods (consolidated text)