The hemp industry in the United States has experienced significant growth in recent years, driven by the increasing demand for hemp-derived products like cannabidiol (CBD).
As the industry expands, ensuring consumer safety and product quality is the highest priority. The National Industrial Hemp Council of America (NIHC) has taken a significant step toward achieving this goal through its NIHC Verify program in partnership with the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA).
Below, we’ll guide you through how to get NIHC verified and explain the program’s importance.
Ensuring Consumer Safety
The NIHC Verify program is designed with consumer health and safety in mind. It is a joint recognition accreditation program for hemp testing laboratories in the United States. This program results from the partnership between A2LA and NIHC, recognized by the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC). Its primary purpose is to promote consistent laboratory testing practices, ensuring consumer safety and confidence in hemp-derived products.
Building Consumer Confidence
Laboratory accreditation plays a crucial role in demonstrating the quality and competence of an organization based on international standards. It assures customers, clients, and stakeholders of the validity of test results. The NIHC Verify program is built upon the ISO/IEC 17025 requirements, a global standard for testing and calibration laboratories.
This program serves as a benchmark for hemp testing laboratories, accrediting them to conduct essential testing in the following areas:
- Pesticides
- Heavy Metals
- Potency
- Microbiology
- Residual Solvents
- Program Benefits
Participating in the NIHC Verify program offers numerous benefits, including:
- Meeting an internationally recognized standard accepted by global government regulators.
- Minimizing risks while staying ahead of regulatory requirements.
- Demonstrating a test laboratory’s commitment to consumer and patient health and safety.
- Scientifically verifying that facilities adhere to the strictest industry safety standards.
How to Apply
To participate in the NIHC Verify program, you must first become an NIHC Member. You can find detailed membership requirements on the NIHC Membership website.
Once you have become a NIHC Member, you must obtain, adhere to, and pass an A2LA audit.
After successfully passing the audit and addressing any non-conformances, participants will be awarded a joint A2LA/NIHC Verify certificate.
NIHC Global Directory
NIHC has collaborated with Global Data Vision to establish a global laboratory directory. This directory promotes transparency and allows consumers and customers to review labs that test hemp-related products. Participants who receive the A2LA/NIHC Verify certificate are eligible for one complimentary location listing in this directory.
NIHC and Qredible – Top Notch Product Safety
The NIHC Verify program is a significant step toward ensuring the safety and quality of hemp-derived products. It sets a high standard for hemp testing laboratories and helps consumers make informed choices. By adhering to international accreditation standards and promoting transparency, NIHC actively contributes to the safe production and use of hemp worldwide.
While Qredible is not a compliance enforcement initiative or regulatory body, we are proud to support and promote these organizations’ work by validating and verifying claims, certifications, licenses, registrations, and other documentation.
In doing so, we also support companies committed to ensuring their products’ quality, safety, and effectiveness. We do this by distinguishing them from competitors that make claims without trying to earn or substantiate them.
Commitment to quality and extending the extra resources to become certified and ensure best practices in safety and quality is fundamental to gaining trust. This is why we believe so strongly in validation and verification.
Our mission is to facilitate and foster safer commerce to increase trust in the entire industry.
Qredible is the only digital registry of verified and validated legalized cannabis, hemp, and CBD brands. Want to be in Qredible? Get started today.
