ACS’s Safety Seal Elevates Industry Standards & Consumer Trust

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In this post:

• What is the certified safety seal
• Safety seal benefits
• How it works
• What each seal means

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In an industry mired in historical taboos and quality-control concerns, building trust is essential for long-term growth. Especially at a time when lawmakers are actively writing legislation to regulate hemp and cannabis products, organizations must market 100% safe and clean inventory.

Yet, factors ranging from manufacturing errors to false laboratory results have led to mislabeling, negative headlines, and a breakdown of consumer confidence. ACS Laboratory wants to change that, which is why we created a Tested Safe Certified Seal for products that pass the strictest testing guidelines.

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Breakdown of Consumer Trust

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A recent study showed less than half of consumers trust cannabis ingredients. Another study showed that 22% refuse to buy CBD because they don’t trust the manufacturer or the product.

Can you blame them? Like the recent report from Penn Medicine, an overwhelming number of studies reveal 70% or more of products are mislabeled with incorrect potency information. Mistakes like that are especially harmful when “THC-free” CBD oils contain psychoactive levels of the illicit compound.

Another quality-control issue is product contamination. Mold, mildew, and pesticides are the most common impurities, but they’re far from the only ones.

In an interview with ACS Laboratory last year, Florida’s Cannabis Director told the team she was shocked to discover several products across multiple brands contained dangerous amounts of lead. From contamination to false potency labeling, consumers and lawmakers have a legitimate cause for concern.

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How the Tested Safe Certified Seal Can Help

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The Tested Safe Certified Safety Seal, which is endorsed by the American Cannabinoid Association, is a physical symbol that your product passed the strictest testing guidelines in the country by an award-winning medical-grade laboratory.

“The American Cannabinoid Association proudly endorses ACS Laboratory’s Tested Safe Certified Seal program,” stated Matthew Guenther, founder of The American Cannabinoid Association.

“It is exciting to see our industry legally providing cannabis and cannabis-derived products on a commercial scale. As with any consumer product, safety and quality control remain our absolute priority. Thanks to the expertise and dedication of ACS Laboratory, cannabis retailers, wholesalers, law firms, law enforcement professionals and consumers can be certain that products containing this trademarked seal have been tested for quality assurance.”

Unlike a QR code that links to a Certificate of Analysis (COA) with detailed test results, the Safety Seal shows visual proof at a glance that consumers can trust your brand. The Seal signifies that your hemp or cannabis product is:

• Backed by verified test results at an ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accredited, DEA-registered facility
• Free from contaminants, pesticides, and solvents
• Accurately labeled
• Safe to ingest

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The visual icon is essential because consumers use package information to make decisions when purchasing ingestible products. Information in the form of a symbol or image can help inspire them. In a recent survey, half of all consumers said they check the package for content icons to inform their decision before buying, and a symbol of “health” would have a strong influence on what they choose.

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The Safety Seal’s Benefits

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If your product passes the full panel of tests, you can display this trademarked, non-branded, service-marked seal on your website, product label, and COA. When customers see the Seal, they’ll know your hemp or cannabis flower, extract, or edible surpasses all state and federal requirements, which they can verify by reviewing the results in the COA. Yet, at a glance, the Safety Seal icon will tell your consumers that your product is healthy, safe to buy and labeled with the same cannabinoids it contains.

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The Tested Safe Certified Seal provides:

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• A valuable marketing tool for building confidence in your product and brand.
• A sign that you are transparent and accountable to the people who matter most (your customers).
• Instant proof that consumers can trust the results from a verified, medical-grade laboratory
• Confirmation that you’re offering clean products, which is vital to about 80% of consumers.
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How the Seal Works

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When you create high-quality products with consumer health at the top of your mind, you’ll want to show off the results. Here’s how:

1. You send your products to ACS Laboratory for a full panel of recommended safety and potency tests.
2. We notify you of the test results, which you can view in your secure customer portal.
3. We work with your marketing team to publish the seals on your packaging, print materials, and digital platforms.

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What Each Seal Means

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ACS developed a unique testing protocol and Certified Seal for each hemp and cannabis product. The Seal is not a generic icon; it is backed by a series of customized tests to match the strictest standards based on state and federal laws, as well as ACS’s recommended tests to elevate industry standards.

For example, the Hemp Extract must pass Vitamin E acetate and residual solvent tests. Hemp Flower products do not need to pass those extract-specific tests, but they need to pass pesticides, mold and mildew, and other contaminants.

Click here for a complete list of required tests for every hemp and cannabis Certified Seal.

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The Bottom Line

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Now is the time to take advantage of the most trusted testing Seal in hemp and cannabis. By participating in the program, you also join our network of trusted “beyond compliance” partners.  

You arm your customers with critical information before making their purchases while elevating the industry’s professional reputation. Join the collective movement to make this miraculously medicinal plant accessible to every adult who wants it.

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About ACS Laboratory

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The Most Trusted Cannabis and Hemp Laboratory in the USA™, ACS Laboratory, has earned more Emerald Test Badges for accuracy testing than any other laboratory in the USA. ACS Laboratory is ISO 17025 accredited, DEA licensed, and CLIA certified with the largest state-of-the-art facility in the Eastern USA. Compliant with the USDA's rules for hemp testing, ACS is also approved by the Florida Department of Agriculture as a "Designated Compliance Laboratory" and deemed a "Certified Marijuana Testing Laboratory" by the Florida Department of Health.

Due to its success, ACS Laboratory has undergone an expansion to 20,000 sq. ft. and increased its reach to 49 states and four countries worldwide. Beyond compliance, ACS is committed to innovation, which is why it tests for more cannabinoids than most labs in the country and continuously develops new protocols to analyze lesser-known contaminants. Its facility utilizes industry-leading ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry technology and proprietary protocols to ensure accurate detection.

Watch this video about ACS Laboratory, and read the blog for up-to-date information on cannabis science and lab testing for both the hemp and cannabis industries. For more information, visit acslabcannabis.com, or call (813) 578-8876.

Learn more about ACS's Safety Seal Program in our recent press release.

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