NSF International to Offer Testing, Certification for CBD, Hemp Products

Global public health organization NSF International will now provide a variety of independent testing, verification, auditing and certification services to manufacturers of consumer products containing hemp and hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD). NSF subsidiary Quality Assurance International, a USDA-accredited organic certifier, began offering organic certification of hemp and hemp-derived CBD products in August.

Hemp and hemp-derived CBD are widely available in the United States in products ranging from dietary supplements, beverages and edibles to oils, creams and sprays.

“As a mission-driven organization focused on protecting and improving human health, NSF International is committed to providing services that help manufacturers produce, process and package products made with hemp or hemp-derived CBD consistent with GMPs, appropriate quality-control procedures and applicable labeling requirements,” said said Lori Bestervelt, Ph.D., executive vice president and chief technical officer at NSF International.

Beginning in October 2019, NSF International plans to offer the following additional services for products containing hemp or hemp-derived CBD:

• Certification to the American National Standard for Dietary Supplements: NSF/ANSI 173
• Toxicologic evaluation
• Supplier assurance audits
• Verification of food safety programs involving hemp and hemp-derived CBD
• Evaluation and/or certification of food equipment used for hemp and hemp-derived CBD
• ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 audits for facilities

“Our toxicology team is currently working to identify an upper safety limit for CBD in dietary supplements,” said David Trosin, general manager of NSF’s dietary supplements program. “Once that permissible level is identified, we will begin certifying supplements that contain hemp and hemp-derived CBD.”

For more information, visit www.nsf.org.