EXCLUSIVE: How Hemp Certifications Bridge Regulatory Gaps While Debunking Myths
The U.S. Hemp Authority (USHA) certification program aims to become a cornerstone of hemp industry standards, providing self-regulatory practices to an industry that has been at the center of a multidimensional debate. The program focuses on safety, labeling and quality control – all aspects about which federal regulations remain absent.
Since 2018, this industry-led initiative has offered two levels of certification: a “classic” seal for non-intoxicating products, such as CBD, and a “21+” seal for adult-use products containing compounds like Delta-8 and Delta-9 THC. In this article, we explain their role and discuss their implications with Chris Fontes, USHA’s president.
Ensuring Product Safety Through Self-Regulatory Certification
According to Fontes, certifications play an essential role in addressing concerns from advocates of stricter regulations.
“A certification standard shows legislators, regulators, and consumers alike that we are serious about creating safe and effective products for human consumption,” Fontes says. To address gaps in federal regulation, USHA developed the Adult Use Certification Standard, which he describes as “created to fill the gap that was created when federal regulators failed to create rules for products.”
USHA’s standards address key areas of concern often cited by those favoring stricter oversight, Fontes says
“The …