FoodChain ID, an ISO 17025 accredited food safety, testing, and sustainability organization, is now the exclusive certifying body for the U.S. Hemp Authority [USHA] Certification seal.
 
FoodChain ID is widely recognized for the development, implementation, and marketing of the Non-GMO Project Verification labeling standard. It also certifies USDA Organic products, and its services span the food, beverage, ingredient, and food component industries.
 
The USHA was founded in 2018 with the purpose of serving as a standardized quality certification board. Its certification helps farmers, product manufacturers, marketers, and retailers secure mainstream market share by appealing to consumer and trade concerns about the veracity of product claims and serves to legitimize the evolving Hemp/CBD consumer product category.
 
Foodchain ID senior vice president of commercial services Mark Dabroski described the benefits of an industry-run certification program.
 
“With the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, hemp’s extracts such as CBD with a THC level of not more than 0.3 percent are no longer illegal controlled substances under federal law and are becoming more prevalent in food, beverage, and health and wellness products,” Dabroski said. “Hemp seed oil and protein markets have been increasing exponentially over the last decade. With the category’s expected growth at a 46% CAGR to reach $2.8B by 2023, the need for self-regulation and transparency is critical.”
 
Funded by the U.S. Hemp Roundtable and joined by organizations such as the Hemp Industries Association, industry firms, testing laboratories, agronomists, and quality assessors, USHA developed guidelines for growers, processors, manufacturers, and brand owners of ingestible and cosmetic hemp products. Participants are licensed to use the Certified Seal of the U.S. Hemp Authority after meeting stringent self-regulatory standards, passing an independent third-party audit, and entering into a Licensing Agreement. 
 
“The U.S. Hemp Authority Certification Program is our industry’s initiative to provide high standards, best practices, and self-regulation, giving consumers an easy way to identify hemp-derived products that can be trusted,” USHA president Marielle Weintraub said. “We are striving for ingredient transparency and truth in labeling.” 
 
The organizations standards and practices are consistently subject to updates and improvements.