WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The U.S. Hemp Authority today announced the first awards of its Certification Seal to 13 outstanding companies that have met the stringent standards the industry laid out for quality and safety.

The following awardees have demonstrated their commitment to assuring that consumers have access to safe and accurately labeled hemp-derived products, including fiber, seed and extracts, such as cannabidiol (CBD).

• Charlotte’s Web, Boulder, CO • CV Sciences, San Diego, CA • HempMeds, San Diego, CA • MetaCan, Roswell, GA • Medterra CBD, Irvine, CA • GenCanna, Winchester, KY • Balanced Health Botanicals, • Shell Farms, Winchester, KY Louisville, CO • Nature’s Hemp Oil, Lexington, KY • HD Distribution, Louisville, CO • Hempworx, Las Vegas, NV • Bluebird Botanicals, Louisville, CO • Barlean’s, Ferndale, WA

In addition to elevating consumer confidence in the quality and safety of hemp products, this voluntary certification demonstrates the industry’s commitment to working with federal and state regulators and law enforcement agencies. Modeled after existing federal regulations for manufacturing in the dietary supplement industry, these standards offer an industry-led model for any future regulations to ensure safety and quality.

“As the market for hemp-derived products undergoes rapid growth, it is critically important for us to signal to the world that we intend to act responsibly. Quality assurance and safety must come first, and that’s why we set off on this journey,” said Marielle Weintraub, PhD, president of the U.S. Hemp Authority. “Creating these standards was a long journey, but after thousands of pages of public and stakeholder input and countless hours of hard work, we are thrilled to announce our first awardees today.”

Established in 2018, the U.S. Hemp Authority Certified Seal program was developed with the guidance of AgWin Group’s David Bossman, a veteran of agricultural self-regulation with no financial interests in the industry. The U.S. Hemp Authority sought input from more than 20,000 interested parties and reached out directly to every participant in a state-based hemp pilot project for whom contact information was publicly available.

The organization is working on an updated program, called Guidance Plan 2.0, which will take ongoing input from farmers and certified companies, as well as stakeholders in the fiber, oilseed, nutritional supplement and extract industries, to continually improve the certification. Engaging with interested parties will remain a priority as the process evolves.

The certification is designed specifically to educate hemp farmers and producers about Food and Drug Administration Current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) and Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) to ensure that consistent quality is achieved. The U.S. Hemp Authority Certification Program is administered by experienced quality assurance and verification professionals from industry-leading food and agricultural companies. The certification is audited by Validus, a division of Where Food Comes From, Inc., a leading provider of certification and verification services.

About U.S. Hemp Authority

The U.S. Hemp Authority Certification Program is the hemp industry's initiative to provide high standards, best practices and self-regulation, giving confidence to consumers, regulators and law enforcement that hemp-derived products are safe and legal. In an effort funded by the US Hemp Roundtable, and joined by organizations such as the Hemp Industries Association, state pilot project participants, industry-leading firms, top-tier testing laboratories and quality assessors, the U.S. Hemp Authority developed comprehensive guidance for growers and processors of hemp. For more information on the US Hemp Authority, visit ushempauthority.org.