CBD and controlled cannabinoids: results from a ring trial
The Government Chemist team have published a report summarising the findings of a ring trial to assess laboratories’ performance in measuring CBD and controlled cannabinoids
Background
The project has been funded by the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS), the Food Standards Agency (FSA), the Home Office and the Office for Product Safety & Standards (OPSS) and has been carried out in collaboration with Food Standards Scotland (FSS) and the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL).
Cannabidiol (CBD) products have rapidly entered the UK market in a variety of forms, including food and cosmetics. Laboratories across the UK need to be able to accurately measure the CBD content as well as the controlled cannabinoid content in commercially available products. CBD and cannabinoids have been highlighted as difficult compounds to analyse. The aim of the ring trial was to share and compare methods for quantifying CBD and controlled cannabinoids in food and cosmetics among testing laboratories
Thirty-four national and international laboratories participated in the ring trial. The results have shown that there is good agreement of results between most laboratories. The data includes instrument types and limits of detection which helped assess the capability of testing laboratories and which will be invaluable information to determine the UK capability in analysing CBD products and controlled cannabinoids.
For more information about the report or the work of the Government Chemist please contact: