TITLE 3. ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE AND CANNABIS CONTROL

VIRGINIA CANNABIS CONTROL AUTHORITY

Final Regulation

Title of Regulation: 3VAC10-60. Testing of Cannabis Products (adding 3VAC10-60-10, 3VAC10-60-20, 3VAC10-60-30).

Statutory Authority: §§ 4.1-601, 4.1-604, and 4.1-606 of the Code of Virginia.

Effective Date: January 1, 2024.

Agency Contact: Jake Shuford, Legislative and Regulatory Manager, Virginia Cannabis Control Authority, 333 East Franklin Street, Richmond, VA 23219, telephone (804) 873-9038, or email jake.shuford@cca.virginia.gov.

Background: Chapters 740 and 773 of the 2023 Acts of Assembly transferred regulatory authority for the Medical Cannabis Program from the Board of Pharmacy to the independent agency, the Cannabis Control Authority.

Summary:

Pursuant to Chapters 740 and 773, this action establishes Testing of Cannabis Products (3VAC10-60) for the Medical Cannabis Program, which provides laboratory requirements for the testing and possible remediation of medical cannabis and medical cannabis products.

Chapter 60

Testing of Cannabis Products

3VAC10-60-10. Definitions.

In addition to words and terms defined in § 4.1-600 of the Code of Virginia, the following words and terms when used in this chapter shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Batch" means a quantity of (i) cannabis oil from a production lot or (ii) harvested botanical cannabis product that is identified by a batch number or other unique identifier.

"Board" means the Board of Directors of the Cannabis Control Authority.

"Cannabis cultivation facility" means a location at which the board has authorized a pharmaceutical processor to cultivate cannabis plants pursuant to § 4.1-1602 of the Code of Virginia and the requirements of 3VAC10-30-160.

"ISO/IEC 17025" means the general requirements specified by the joint technical committee of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories.

"Medical cannabis facility" means a pharmaceutical processor, cannabis dispensing facility, or cannabis cultivation facility.

"Production" or "produce" means the manufacture, planting, preparation, cultivation, growing, harvesting, propagation, conversion, or processing of marijuana for the creation of usable cannabis, botanical cannabis, or a cannabis product derived thereof (i) directly or indirectly by extraction from substances of natural origin; (ii) independently by means of chemical synthesis; or (iii) by a combination of extraction and chemical synthesis. "Production" or "produce" includes any packaging or repackaging of the substance or labeling or relabeling of its container.

"Qualifying patient" means a Virginia resident who has received from a practitioner, as defined in § 4.1-1600 of the Code of Virginia, a written certification for the use of cannabis products for treatment of or to alleviate the symptoms of any diagnosed condition or disease.

3VAC10-60-20. Laboratory requirements.

A. No pharmaceutical processor or cannabis cultivation facility shall utilize a laboratory to handle, test, or analyze cannabis products unless such laboratory:

1. Is independent from all other persons involved in the cannabis industry in Virginia, which shall mean that no person with a direct or indirect interest in the laboratory shall have a direct or indirect financial interest in a pharmacist, pharmaceutical processor, cannabis dispensing facility, certifying practitioner, or any other entity that may benefit from the production, manufacture, dispensing, sale, purchase, or use of cannabis products;

2. Has employed at least one person to oversee and be responsible for the laboratory testing who has earned from a college or university accredited by a national or regional certifying authority at least (i) a master's level degree in chemical or biological sciences and a minimum of two years of post-degree laboratory experience or (ii) a bachelor's degree in chemical or biological sciences and a minimum of four years of post-degree laboratory experience;

3. Has obtained a controlled substances registration certificate pursuant to § 54.1-3423 of the Code of Virginia authorizing the testing of cannabis products;

4. Has provided proof to the board of accreditation in testing and calibration in accordance with the most current version of the International Standard for Organization and the ISO/IEC 17025 or proof that the laboratory has applied for accreditation in testing and calibration in the most current version of ISO/IEC 17025. Any testing and calibration method utilized to perform a cannabis-related analysis for pharmaceutical processors shall be in accordance with the laboratory's ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation. The accrediting body shall be recognized by International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation.

a. A laboratory applying for authorization to provide cannabis-related analytical tests for pharmaceutical processors shall receive ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation within two years from the date the laboratory applied for ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation. A laboratory may request, and the board may grant for good cause shown, additional time for the laboratory to receive ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation.

b. A laboratory shall send proof of ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation to the board for cannabis-related analytical test methods for pharmaceutical processors for which it has received ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation no later than five business days after the date in which the accreditation was received.

c. A laboratory may use nonaccredited analytical test methods so long as the laboratory has commenced an application for ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation for analytical test methods for cannabis-related analysis for pharmaceutical processors. No laboratory shall use nonaccredited analytical test methods for cannabis-related analysis for pharmaceutical processors if it has applied for and has not received ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation within two years. The laboratory may request, and the board may grant for good cause shown, additional time for the laboratory to utilize nonaccredited analytical test methods for cannabis-related analysis.

d. At such time that a laboratory loses its ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation for any cannabis-related analytical test methods for pharmaceutical processors, it shall inform the board within 24 hours. The laboratory shall immediately stop handling, testing, or analyzing cannabis for pharmaceutical processors; and

5. Complies with a transportation protocol for transporting cannabis or cannabis products to or from itself or to or from pharmaceutical processors.

B. After processing and before dispensing the cannabis oil product, a pharmaceutical processor shall make a sample available from each homogenized batch of product for a laboratory to (i) test for microbiological contaminants, mycotoxins, heavy metals, residual solvents, and pesticide chemical residue; and (ii) conduct an active ingredient analysis and terpenes profile. Each laboratory shall determine a valid sample size for testing, which may vary due to sample matrix, analytical method, and laboratory-specific procedures. A minimum sample size of 0.5% of individual units for dispensing or distribution from each homogenized batch of cannabis oil is required to achieve a representative sample for analysis.

C. A pharmaceutical processor or cannabis cultivation facility shall make a sample available from each harvest batch of botanical cannabis product to (i) test for microbiological contaminants, mycotoxins, heavy metals, pesticide chemical residue, water activity, and moisture content and (ii) conduct an active ingredient analysis and terpenes profile. In determining the minimum sample size for testing from each batch of botanical cannabis, the certified testing laboratory may determine the minimum sample size. The sample must be representative of the entire batch to include selection from various points in the batch lot and be of sufficient sample size to allow for analysis of all required tests.

D. From the time that a batch of cannabis product has been sampled for testing until the laboratory provides the results from its tests and analysis, the pharmaceutical processor shall segregate and withhold from use the entire batch, except the samples that have been removed by the laboratory for testing. During this period of segregation, the pharmaceutical processor shall maintain the batch in a secure, cool, and dry location so as to prevent the batch from becoming contaminated or losing its efficacy.

E. Under no circumstances shall a pharmaceutical processor or cannabis dispensing facility sell a cannabis product prior to the time that the laboratory has completed its testing and analysis and provided a certificate of analysis to the pharmaceutical processor.

F. The processor shall require the laboratory to immediately return or properly dispose of any cannabis products and materials upon the completion of any testing, use, or research.

G. A sample of cannabis oil product shall pass the microbiological, mycotoxin, heavy metal, or residual solvent test based on the standards set forth in this subsection, the batch may be remediated with further processing.

1. For purposes of the microbiological test, a cannabis oil sample shall be deemed to have passed if it satisfies the standards set forth in Section 1111 of the United States Pharmacopeia.

2. For purposes of the mycotoxin test, a sample of cannabis oil product shall be deemed to have passed if it meets the following standards:

3. For purposes of the heavy metal test, a sample of cannabis oil product shall be deemed to have passed if it meets the following standards:

4. For purposes of the pesticide chemical residue test, a sample of cannabis oil product shall be deemed to have passed if it satisfies the most stringent acceptable standard for a pesticide chemical residue in any food item as set forth in Subpart C of the federal Environmental Protection Agency's regulations for Tolerances and Exemptions for Pesticide Chemical Residues in Food (40 CFR Part 180).

5. For purposes of the active ingredient analysis, a sample of the cannabis oil product shall be tested for:

a. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC);

b. Tetrahydrocannabinol acid (THC-A);

c. Cannabidiols (CBD); and

d. Cannabidiolic acid (CBDA).

6. For the purposes of the residual solvent test, a sample of the cannabis oil product shall be deemed to have passed if it meets the standards and limits recommended by the American Herbal Pharmacopia for Cannabis Inflorescence.

H. A sample of botanical cannabis product shall pass the microbiological, mycotoxin, heavy metal, water activity, or moisture content test based on the standards set forth in this subsection.

1. For purposes of the microbiological test, a botanical cannabis sample shall be deemed to have passed if it satisfies the standards set forth in the most current American Herbal Pharmacopoeia Cannabis Inflorescence Standards of Identity, Analysis, and Quality Control.

2. For purposes of the mycotoxin test, a sample of botanical cannabis shall be deemed to have passed if it meets the following standards:

3. For purposes of the heavy metal test, a sample of botanical cannabis shall be deemed to have passed if it meets the following standards:

4. For purposes of the pesticide chemical residue test, a sample of botanical cannabis shall be deemed to have passed if it satisfies the most stringent acceptable standard for a pesticide chemical residue in any food item as set forth in Subpart C of the federal Environmental Protection Agency's regulations for Tolerances and Exemptions for Pesticide Chemical Residues in Food (40 CFR Part 180).

5. For purposes of the active ingredient analysis, a sample of the botanical cannabis shall be tested for:

a. Total tetrahydrocannabinol (THC); and

b. Total cannabidiol (CBD).

6. For the purposes of water activity and moisture content for botanical cannabis, the botanical cannabis shall be deemed to have passed if the water activity rate does not exceed 0.65Aw and the moisture content does not exceed 15%.

I. If a sample of cannabis product passes the required tests listed in subsections G and H of this section, the entire batch may be utilized by the processor for immediate packaging and labeling for sale. An expiration date shall be assigned to the product that is based upon validated stability testing that addresses product stability when opened and the shelf-life for unopened products, except stability testing shall not be required for cannabis products if an expiration date of six months or less from the date of the cannabis product registration approval is signed.

J. The processor shall require the laboratory to file with the board an electronic copy of each laboratory test result for any batch that does not pass the required tests listed in subsections G and H of this section at the same time that it transmits those results to the pharmaceutical processor. In addition, the laboratory shall maintain the laboratory test results and make them available to the board or an agent of the board.

K. Each medical cannabis facility shall have such laboratory results available upon request to patients, parents, legal guardians, registered agents, practitioners who have certified qualifying patients, the board, or an agent of the board.

3VAC10-60-30. Remediation.

A. If a sample of cannabis oil product does not pass the microbiological, mycotoxin, heavy metal, or residual solvent test based on the standards set forth in 3VAC10-60-20 G, the batch may be remediated with further processing. After further processing, the batch shall be retested for microbiological, mycotoxin, heavy metal, pesticide chemical residue, and residual solvent, and an active ingredient analysis and terpenes profile shall be conducted.

B. A cannabis oil product that does not pass the pesticide chemical residue test cannot be remediated.

C. If a sample of botanical cannabis product does not pass the microbiological, mycotoxin, heavy metal, water activity, or moisture content test based on the standards set forth in 3VAC10-60-20 H, the batch may be remediated.

1. Once remediated, the batch shall be retested for microbiological, mycotoxin, heavy metal, pesticide chemical residue, water activity, and moisture content, and an active ingredient analysis and terpenes profile shall be conducted.

2. If the botanical cannabis batch fails retesting, it shall be considered usable cannabis and may be processed into cannabis oil, unless the failure is related to pesticide requirements, in which case the batch shall not be considered usable cannabis and shall not be processed into cannabis oil.

3. Any batch processed into cannabis oil shall comply with all testing standards set forth in 3VAC10-60-20 G.

D. A botanical cannabis product that does not pass the pesticide chemical residue test cannot be remediated.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE (3VAC10-60)

Cannabis Inflorescence Standards of Identity, Analysis, and Quality Control, Revision 2014, American Herbal Pharmacopoeia, P.O. Box 66809, Scotts Valley, CA 95067

Section 1111 of The United States Pharmacopeia and National Formulary, revised November 1, 2016, U.S. Pharmacopeia Convention, 12601 Twinbrook Parkway Rockville, MD 20852-1790