Developing The Capabilities of Laboratories and Creating a Network to Enhance The Efficiency of Monitoring The Quality of Cannabis and Hemp Products in Thailand

Abstract

Background: Surveillance and control of the quality of cannabis foods for consumer protection required laboratory analysis, and the analysis method was an important issue that directly affected the efficiency of surveillance.

Objectives: To enhance the laboratory capacity of the Bureau of Quality and Safety of Food, Department of Medical Sciences, and regional laboratories in four regions of Thailand

methods: Developing the analytical methods for cannabinoids in foods according to the laws, establishing the project to enhance the capacity of regional laboratories, evaluating by providing the sample for interlaboratory comparison, and onsite visiting.

Result: In 2021, the analytical method for cannabinoids in foods was developed to support the Ministry of Public Health Announcement No. 425, covering all 11 types of food, and other methods were continuously developed in response to the Ministry of Public Health Announcement No. 427, 428, 429, 437, 438, and 439. Eventually, in 2022, the laboratory was accredited according to ISO/IEC 17025: 2017 for the analysis methods of ready-to-eat food, beverage (with and without cannabis ingredient), and cannabis plant (fresh and dried plant, excluding cannabis flower), which was the first laboratory in Thailand. Then, in 2022-2023, there has been a project to develop the regional network laboratories, enhancing laboratory capacity in all 4 regions of Thailand. The scope of analytes was complied with the related laws for the surveillance and registration of the local products. In 2023, there has been an evaluation of the analytical method of regional laboratories by interlaboratory testing, and the results of THC and CBD testing were satisfied for 92.9% and 92.3%, respectively. Finally, the project has continuously supported the regional laboratories by onsite visiting, advising, and solving the challenges.

Conclusion: The outcome of this project can be beneficial for both public and private sectors, extend the capacity to monitor the quality and safety of foods for the regional laboratories, be able to handle the local products, provide more service areas for the customers, and acquired the analytical results as a big data that could be used to plan the food safety surveillance, continuously and systematically. Also, the data could be communicated to the related agencies for further use.