With industrial hemp and its cannabinoid derivatives becoming legal and commercially viable over the past few years, the marketplace has been flooded with raw materials and finished goods – some outstanding, but many sub-par. Recent studies have found brands which either overexaggerate their benefits or simply don’t contain the amount of CBD or other ingredients claimed on the package. Poor quality up and down the supply and production chain creates difficulties in sourcing the materials required to create consistent, high-quality products for the end consumer. The Food and Drug Administration’s hesitancy in properly regulating the industry only adds to this challenge.
As Chief Executive Officer of Green Rock Hemp Holdings, a vertically integrated solutions provider to the hemp industry, I want to see hemp and its derivatives reach their full economic potential. However, this will require a concerted focus on quality throughout the supply chain. Any experienced manufacturer knows that obtaining a Certificate of Analysis (CoA) is not enough. We have all seen CoAs from labs that apply differing standards, and rarely do we really understand what standards and methods are applied by each testing lab.
So how can a processor place itself in the best position to ensure it will consistently receive quality raw materials? One straightforward method is to demand that vendors have adopted deep and meaningful Quality Management Systems (QMS), and that such systems are regularly audited and certified by independent third parties. That’s exactly what we have done at our extraction company, Red Mesa Science & Refining. Implementing such quality programs represent a major step forward in legitimizing the industry.
Every raw material supplier should be following current General Manufacturing Processes (cGMP) set out under 21 C.F.R. 111 and/or 21 C.F.R 117. These processes ensure materials are manufactured to standards that are safe for dietary supplements and safe for food and beverages. In addition, they should be working toward ISO certification. ISO 9001:2015 is an internationally recognized standard that ensures products and services meet both regulatory requirements and high internal standards through effective quality management.The member organization that initially certifies a quality system and regularly audit the certificate holder to verify their ongoing commitment to quality. Developing and implementing an QMS to the requirements set forth in ISO 9001:2015 takes significant upfront resources, dedication to quality, and the tenacity to maintain QMS once the auditors leave the building.
In adopting such standards, a company is proclaiming its commitment to consistency, a reliance on documented and tracible processes, and a passion for innovation. These are the primary attributes you’d want from any mission-critical supplier or vendor that you rely on.
Unfortunately, in our nascent industry, not everyone is dedicated to achieving these standards and fully walking the walk. Therefore, when starting a relationship with a new supplier it is prudent to verify the existence of a QMS program and its current audit/review status by asking these questions:
Is the supplier’s program documented? Do they have dedicated quality personnel? How is material received into the facility? How is the chain of custody documented? How are employees trained in quality? How are exceptions handled? Does the facility hold any third-party certifications and are they readily available?Answers, or the lack of answers to these simple questions, can either build confidence or send up warning flags. Any supplier engaging in a robust QMS regime will be eager to show it off and answer all your questions.
If individually we start expecting these levels of excellence from our suppliers and business partners, collectively, as an industry, we can only improve upon our overall quality, elevate customer confidence, and deepen our chances for success. By setting higher expectations and standards for our individual companies, we will also lift the industry and help it reach its full economic potential.
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