Washington Administrative Code
Title 246 - Health, Department of
AGENCY DESCRIPTION
Chapter 246-70 - Marijuana product compliance
Section 246-70-050 - Quality assurance testing
Universal Citation: WA Admin Code 246-70-050
Current through Register Vol. 24-18, September 15, 2024
(1) Testing interval and sample size.
(a) The testing requirements of this section
are in addition to the tests required under WAC
314-55-102 and shall be performed
by a third-party testing lab certified by the WSLCB.
(b) Pesticide screening and heavy metal
screening are required at the following time(s):
(i) For all marijuana flowers, trim, leaves,
or other plant matter, intended for retail sale without extraction, at the time
of harvest or when placed into lots.
(ii) For all products intended for retail
sale as concentrates, extracts, or for use as an intermediate product,
screening is required only after extraction and is not required according to
(b)(i) of this subsection.
(iii) An
imported cannabinoid must be screened prior to addition to any marijuana
product.
(c) Minimum
sample size for pesticide screening and heavy metal screening:
(i) For screening at harvest, three grams for
every three pounds of harvested product. Harvest amounts will be rounded up to
the next three-pound interval. For example, a harvest of less than three pounds
requires at least three grams for testing; a harvest of three or more pounds
but less than six pounds requires at least six grams for testing.
(ii) For screening a lot, three grams per
lot.
(iii) For screening a batch of
finished concentrates, extracts, or intermediate products, two grams per
batch.
(iv) For screening imported
cannabinoids, one percent of the product as packaged by the manufacturer of the
imported cannabinoid but in no case shall the sample be less than two
grams.
(d) Mycotoxin
screening is required whenever microbial testing for any marijuana product is
required by the WSLCB.
(e) Licensed
marijuana producers, licensed marijuana processors, and certified third-party
labs must follow the sampling protocols in chapter 314-55 WAC.
(f) At the request of the producer or
processor, the WSLCB 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
processor.
(2) Pesticide screening.
(a) Only allowed pesticides shall
be used in the production, processing, and handling of marijuana. Pesticide use
must be consistent with the manufacturer's label requirements.
(b) Certified third-party labs must 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 in consultation with the Washington state department of
agriculture and the WSLCB. Certified third-party labs must also screen for
pyrethrins and piperonyl butoxide (PBO) in samples of concentrates, extracts,
intermediate products, and imported cannabinoids. Certified third-party labs
may also screen for additional pesticides.
(c) For purposes of the pesticide screening,
a sample of any marijuana product shall be deemed to have failed if a pesticide
that is not allowed is detected above the action level for that pesticide as
determined by the WSLCB under chapter 314-55 WAC.
(d) A harvest, lot, or batch deemed to have
failed pesticide screening must be destroyed according to chapter 314-55 WAC.
Marijuana flowers, trim, leaves, or other plant matter deemed to have failed
pesticide screening must not be used to create extracts or concentrates.
Imported cannabi-noids deemed to have failed pesticide screening must not be
added to any marijuana product.
(e)
Pesticides containing allowed pyrethrins or piperonyl butoxide (PBO) may not be
applied less than seven days prior to harvest.
(f) All individuals applying pesticides shall
adhere to the agricultural use requirements on the label. Pesticide
applications that do not follow the pesticide product label may pose risks to
public health and safety and are a violation of chapter 15.58 RCW.
(3) Heavy metal screening.
(a) For the purposes of heavy metal
screening, a sample shall be deemed to have passed if it meets the following
standards:
| Metal | Limit, µg/daily dose (5 grams) |
| Inorganic arsenic ................. | 10.0 |
| Cadmium ................. | 4.1 |
| Lead ................. | 6.0 |
| Mercury ................. | 2.0 |
(b)
A harvest, lot, or batch deemed to have failed heavy metal screening must be
destroyed according to chapter 314-55 WAC. Marijuana flowers, trim, leaves, or
other plant matter deemed to have failed heavy metal screening must not be used
to create extracts or concentrates. Imported cannabi-noids deemed to have
failed heavy metal screening must not be added to any marijuana
product.
(4) For purposes of mycotoxin screening, a sample shall be deemed to have passed if it meets the following standards:
| Test | Specification |
| The total of aflatoxin B1, aflatoxin B2, aflatoxin G1 and aflatoxin G2 ....... | <20 µG/kg of substance |
| Ochratoxin A .......... | <20 µG/kg of substance |
(5) Terpenes.
(a) Terpene analysis is not
required. If terpene content is listed on product packaging or label, a terpene
analysis from a certified third-party lab must be available for review by the
consumer upon request.
(b) The
addition of any terpene to useable marijuana is prohibited. Only the following
terpenes may be added to a marijuana product other than useable marijuana.
(i) Terpenes naturally occurring in
marijuana; or
(ii) Terpenes
permitted or generally recognized as safe by, and used in accordance with, 21
C.F.R., Chapter I, sub-chapter B.
Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Washington may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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