Section 314-55-109 - [Effective 1/7/2025] Cannabinoid additives-Requirements, restrictions, and quality assurance testing(1) As provided in RCW 69.50.326 Licensed cannabis producers and licensed cannabis processors may use a cannabidiol (CBD) product obtained from a source not licensed under this chapter, provided the CBD product:(a) Is not cannabis or a cannabis product, as defined in chapter 69.50 RCW; and(b) Has been tested for contaminants and toxins by a testing laboratory accredited under this chapter and in accordance with testing standards established in this section.(2) Licensed cannabis producers and licensed cannabis processors may use a CBD product obtained from a source not licensed under this chapter and chapter 69.50 RCW as an additive for the purpose of enhancing the CBD concentration of any product authorized for production, processing, and sale under this chapter. However, useable cannabis, except cannabis that is an intermediate product that will be converted into a cannabis-infused product or a cannabis concentrate, may not be treated or otherwise adulterated in any way including the addition of a CBD product consistent with the rules of this chapter. Except as allowed under this section, CBD product additives must be lawfully produced by, or purchased from, a producer or processor licensed under this chapter. The testing requirements for CBD products derived from cannabis produced by cannabis licensees are provided in WAC 314-55-102. The testing requirements in this section are required in addition to quality assurance testing otherwise required under this chapter for cannabis products.(3)Traceability requirements. A licensee must enter CBD products obtained from a source not licensed under this chapter into the state traceability system and keep the information in the traceability system completely up to date, consistent with cannabis and cannabis product recordkeeping and traceability requirements in WAC 314-55-083. A licensee must keep CBD products obtained from a source not licensed under this chapter labeled and quarantined in an area separate from cannabis and cannabis products under video surveillance consistent with the requirements for controlled areas in WAC 314-55-083(3) until the CBD products successfully pass quality assurance testing or are destroyed due to failure of tests as provided in this section. At no time during the quarantine period can the product be handled or moved under any circumstances, except for purposes of deducting samples as required under this section, and is subject to auditing by the LCB or its designee(s). CBD products obtained from a source not licensed under this chapter that fail quality assurance testing as provided in this section must not be added to any cannabis product and must be disposed of consistent with WAC 314-55-097 and the disposal logged into the traceability system consistent with WAC 314-55-083.(4)Testing requirements. The following sample deduction and testing requirements apply to CBD products obtained from a source not licensed under this chapter. Such products must successfully pass quality assurance testing prior to being added to any cannabis product. Samples that fail quality assurance testing and the corresponding products that the samples were deducted from must be disposed of consistent with WAC 314-55-097.(a)Sample size and deduction requirements. Licensed producers, licensed processors, certified labs, and their employees must adhere to the minimum sampling protocols as provided in this section. Samples must be deducted in a way that is most representative of the product the sample is deducted from. The minimum sample size for the testing requirements under this section for CBD products is one percent of the product as packaged by the manufacturer of the CBD product but in no case shall the sample be less than two grams. Licensees, certified labs, and their employees may not adulterate or change in any way the representative sample before the sample is tested. (i) All samples must be collected/deducted in a sanitary environment using sanitary practices and ensure facilities are constructed, kept, and maintained in a clean and sanitary condition in accordance with rules and as prescribed by the Washington state department of agriculture under chapters 16-165 and 16-167 WAC.(ii) Persons collecting samples must wash their hands prior to collecting a sample, wear appropriate gloves, and must use sanitary utensils and storage devices when collecting samples.(iii) Samples must be placed in a sanitary plastic or glass container and stored in a location that prevents the propagation of pathogens and other contaminants, such as a secure, low-light, cool and dry location.(iv) The licensee must maintain the CBD products from which the sample was deducted in a secure, low-light, cool, and dry location to prevent the products from becoming contaminated or degraded prior to the CBD products being added or incorporated into cannabis products after successful passage of testing requirements.(v) Each quality assurance sample must be clearly marked "quality assurance sample" and be labeled with the following information:(A) The unique identifier for the product generated by the state traceability system;(B) The name of the certified lab receiving the sample;(C) The license number and business or trade name of the licensee sending the sample;(D) The date the sample was collected; and(E) The weight of the sample.(vi) Certified labs may retrieve samples from a cannabis licensee's licensed premises and transport the sample(s) directly to the lab. Certified labs may also return any unused portion of the sample(s).(b)Required fields of testing.(i)Cannabinoid concentration analysis. Cannabinoid concentration analysis is required to confirm the product is not cannabis or a cannabis product, as defined in chapter 69.50 RCW, contains detectable levels of CBD, and to measure the levels of THC, THC-A, CBD, and CBD-A in the product, as provided in WAC 314-55-102. Synthetic cannabinoids as defined in RCW 69.50.204 are prohibited under RCW 69.50.401 and any test result that suggests the presence of a synthetic cannabinoid must be immediately reported to the board in the required format. The cannabinoid concentration analysis must be conducted consistent with the requirements under WAC 314-55-102. The following cannabinoid concentration analysis results fail quality control and assurance testing for the purposes of this section and the sample and corresponding product from which the sample was deducted must be disposed of consistent with this section and WAC 314-55-097:
(A) The CBD product is cannabis or a cannabis product, as defined in chapter 69.50 RCW;(B) The CBD product does not contain any detectable levels of CBD or CBD-A; and(C) The sample test results indicate that a substance is present that is not THC, CBD, or inert substance which the THC or CBD is dissolved into.(ii)Pesticide screening.(A) Licensees must use a certified laboratory to screen for any pesticides that are not allowed and are designated as having the potential for misuse on a list created, maintained, and periodically updated by the department of health in consultation with the Washington state department of agriculture and the LCB.(B) If the LCB, WSDA, other designee of the LCB, or certified lab identifies a pesticide that is not allowed for use or application on cannabis under this chapter and is above the action levels provided in WAC 314-55-108, that sample and corresponding product from which the sample was deducted has failed quality assurance testing. A sample that tests at or above the action levels for pesticides consistent with WAC 314-55-108 fails pesticide testing requirements for the purposes of this section. A sample and corresponding product from which the sample was deducted that fails quality assurance testing under this section must be destroyed consistent with WAC 314-55-097.(C) Cannabis licensees must also use certified laboratories to screen for pyrethrins and piperonyl but-oxide (PBO) in samples of CBD products obtained from a source not licensed under this chapter. Certified laboratories may also screen for additional pesticides not specifically required under this section and per the DOH list, however, any sample that tests at or above the action level for any pesticide(s) as established in WAC 314-55-108 fails the testing requirements under this section and must be disposed of consistent with WAC 314-55-097.(iii)Heavy metal screening. For the purposes of heavy metal screening, a sample fails quality assurance testing and must be disposed of consistent with WAC 314-55-097 if it meets or exceeds the following limits: Metal | Limit, µg/daily dose (5 grams) |
Inorganic arsenic................. | 10.0 |
Cadmium....................... | 4.1 |
Lead........................... | 6.0 |
Mercury........................ | 2.0 |
(iv)Residual solvents screening. Cannabis licensees must use a certified laboratory to test for the solvents listed in the table below at a minimum. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, a sample and corresponding product from which the sample was deducted fail quality assurance testing for residual solvents and must be disposed of consistent with WAC 314-55-097 if the results meet or exceed the limits provided in the table below. Residual solvent results of more than 5,000 ppm for class three solvents, 50 ppm for class two solvents, and 2 ppm for class one solvents as defined in United States Pharmacopoeia, USP 30 Chemical Tests / <467> - Residual Solvents (USP <467>) not listed in the table below fail quality assurance testing. Solvent | ppm |
Acetone | 5,000 |
Benzene | 2 |
Butanes | 5,000 |
Cyclohexane | 3,880 |
Chloroform | 2 |
Dichloromethane | 600 |
Ethyl acetate | 5,000 |
Heptanes | 5,000 |
Hexanes | 290 |
Isopropanol (2-propanol) | 5,000 |
Methanol | 3,000 |
Pentanes | 5,000 |
Propane | 5,000 |
Toluene | 890 |
Xylene* | 2,170 |
* Usually 60% m-xylene, 14% p-xylene, 9% o-xylene with 17% ethyl benzene.
(v)Microbiological screening. The sample and corresponding product from which the sample was deducted fail quality assurance testing for microbiological screening and must be disposed of consistent with WAC 314-55-097 if the results exceed the following limits: | Enterobacteria (bile-tolerant gram-negative bacteria) | E. coli (pathogenic strains) and Salmonella spp. |
Unprocessed Plant Material | 104 | Not detected in 1g |
Extracted or Processed Botanical Product | 103 | Not detected in 1g |
(vi)Mycotoxin screening. The sample and corresponding product from which the sample was deducted fail quality assurance testing for mycotoxin screening and must be disposed of consistent with WAC 314-55-097 if the results exceed the following limits:(A) Total of Aflatoxin B1, B2, G1, G2: 20 µg/kg of substance; and(B) Ochratoxin A: 20 µg/kg of substance.(5)Test results reporting requirements. Cannabis licensees must use a certified laboratory to report all test results as required by this section into the state traceability system within 24 hours of completion of the tests.(6)Retesting. At the request of the producer or processor, the LCB may authorize a retest to validate a failed test result on a case-by-case basis. All costs of the retest will be borne by the producer or the processor requesting the retest. Retesting cannabinoid concentrations will not generally be authorized.(7)Remediation. Producers and processors may remediate failed products so long as the remediation method does not impart any toxic or deleterious substance to the CBD products obtained from a source outside the regulated system. Remediation solvents or methods used on the product must be disclosed to a licensed processor the producer or producer/processor transfers the products to; a licensed retailer carrying cannabis products derived from the remediated product; or consumer upon request. The product(s) the failed sample(s) were deducted from must be remediated using the same remediation technique. No remediated CBD products obtained from a source outside the regulated system may be sold, transported, or used in the processing of cannabis products until the completion and successful passage of quality assurance testing as required in this section.(8) A licensee or certified lab that violates any of the provisions of this section is subject to disciplinary action, including possible summary suspension or revocation of the producer license, processor license, producer/processor license, or lab certification.Wash. Admin. Code § 314-55-109
Adopted by WSR 18-22-056, Filed 10/31/2018, effective 12/1/2018Amended by WSR 22-14-111, Filed 7/6/2022, effective 8/6/2022Amended by WSR 24-21-051, Filed 10/9/2024, effective 1/7/2025