Medical cannabidiol program, 154.26(3), 154.28(4), 154.51(3), 154.52(4), 154.72(1)
ARC 3899C
PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT[641]
Notice of Intended Action
Proposing rule making related to medical cannabidiol and providing an opportunity for public comment
The Public Health Department hereby proposes to amend Chapter 154, "Medical Cannabidiol Program," Iowa Administrative Code.
Legal Authority for Rule Making
This rule making is proposed under the authority provided in Iowa Code sections 17A.3(1)"b," 124E.11(2) and 136.3(9).
State or Federal Law Implemented
This rule making implements, in whole or in part, Iowa Code chapter 124E.
Purpose and Summary
These proposed amendments revise the laboratory testing procedures for medical cannabidiol products to require that the majority of the testing be conducted at the process lot stage, as opposed to the product lot stage. Testing for product potency and microbial contaminants will still be required at the product lot stage. This change will assist in controlling laboratory testing costs for the regulated community and still meet the goal of ensuring that products are free of contaminants. In addition, the amendments also clarify that the detected concentration of cannabinoids may not vary from the labeled concentration by more than 15 percent. The amendments also clarify that discrepancies discovered during inventory reconciliation processes need to be reported to law enforcement only when it is suspected that product or plant material diversion has occurred. This change will ensure that law enforcement resources are utilized most efficiently, that is, only when the reconciliation process reveals possible diversion. Finally, the amendments require that an action plan be initiated when a reconciliation process differs from the inventory recorded in the state's seed-to-sale tracking system.
Fiscal Impact
This rule making has no fiscal impact to the State of Iowa.
Jobs Impact
After analysis and review of this rule making, no impact on jobs has been found.
Waivers
Any person who believes that the application of the discretionary provisions of this rule making would result in hardship or injustice to that person may petition the Department for a waiver of the discretionary provisions, if any, pursuant to the Department's variance and waiver provisions contained in 641—Chapter 178.
Public Comment
Any interested person may submit written comments concerning this proposed rule making. Written comments in response to this rule making must be received by the Department no later than 4:30 p.m.on August 7, 2018. Comments should be directed to:
Randy Mayer |
Department of Public Health |
Lucas State Office Building |
321 East 12th Street |
Des Moines, Iowa 50319 |
Email: randall.mayer@idph.iowa.gov |
Public Hearing
No public hearing is scheduled at this time. As provided in Iowa Code section 17A.4(1)"b," an oral presentation regarding this rule making may be demanded by 25 interested persons, a governmental subdivision, the Administrative Rules Review Committee, an agency, or an association having 25 or more members.
Review by Administrative Rules Review Committee
The Administrative Rules Review Committee, a bipartisan legislative committee which oversees rule making by executive branch agencies, may, on its own motion or on written request by any individual or group, review this rule making at its regular monthly meeting or at a special meeting. The Committee's meetings are open to the public, and interested persons may be heard as provided in Iowa Code section 17A.8(6).
The following rule-making actions are proposed:
Item 1. Amend subrule 154.26(3) as follows:
154.26(3) Sampling and testing. A manufacturer shall:
a. Work with the department and laboratory personnel to develop acceptance criteria for all potential contaminants based on the levels of metals, microbes, or other contaminants that the manufacturer uses in cultivating and producing medical cannabidiol;
b. Conduct sampling and testing of all medical cannabidiol lots using acceptance criteria that are protective of patient health. At a minimum, testing of lots shall occur after packaging but before transport or sale to a dispensary. The sampling and testing results shall be approved by the department and laboratory personnel and shall ensure that lots of medical cannabidiol meet allowable health risk limits for contaminants;. Testing of lots shall occur as follows:
(1)At a minimum, testing of lots for cannabinoid potency and all microbiological impurities except microbiological toxins shall occur after packaging but before transport or sale to a dispensary;
(2)At a minimum, testing of lots for residual solvents and processing chemicals, pesticides, metals, and microbiological toxins shall occur at the process lot stage. A packaged product that contains medical cannabidiol solely from process lots that passed laboratory testing for residual solvents and processing chemicals, pesticides, metals, and microbiological toxins does not need to be retested for these analytes provided that solvents and processing chemicals are not used during the processing into the packaged product;
(3)Testing of lots for residual solvents and processing chemicals shall also occur after packaging but before transport or sale to a dispensary if solvents or processing chemicals are used in the production process after the testing of the process lot has occurred;
c. Refrain from packaging or selling medical cannabidiol from a process lot that fails to meet established standards, specifications, and any other relevant quality control criteria. Medical cannabidiol from a process lot that fails quality assurance testing may be remixed and retested;
d. Reject and destroy medical cannabidiol from a lot that fails to meet established standards, specifications, and any other relevant quality control criteria except for potency of CBD and THC. Medical cannabidiol from a lot that fails quality assurance testing based on potency of CBD or THC may be remixed and retested when remixing and retesting are not warranted;
e. Develop and follow a written procedure for responding to results failing to meet established standards, specifications, and any other relevant quality control criteria, including:
(1)Criteria for when remixing and retesting are warranted;
(2)Instructions for destroying contaminated or substandard medical cannabidiol as provided in subrule 154.23(2) when remixing and retesting are not warranted; and
(3)Instructions for determining the source of contamination;
f. Retain documentation of test results, assessment, and destruction of medical cannabidiol for at least five years.
Item 2. Amend subrule 154.27(5) as follows:
154.27(5) Reconciliation. No less often than every two calendar weeks, a manufacturer shall reconcile its physical inventory with the inventory recorded in the department's secure sales and inventory tracking system. Inconsistencies shall be reported to the department and law enforcement within 72 hours of discovery. Reconciliation shall include:
a. Plant material at the manufacturing facility and in transit; and Reconciliation shall include:
(1)Plant material at the manufacturing facility and in transit; and
(2)Medical cannabidiol at the manufacturing facility, at distribution and storage facilities, and in transit.
b. Medical cannabidiol at the manufacturing facility, at distribution and storage facilities, and in transit. Discrepancies between the physical inventory of the manufacturer and the inventory recorded in the department's secure sales and inventory system shall be handled as follows:
(1)A manufacturer shall report suspected diversion of plant material or medical cannabidiol to the department and law enforcement within 72 hours of discovery.
(2)A manufacturer shall have up to 72 hours to reconcile discrepancies in the manufacturer's physical inventory with the inventory recorded in the secure sales and inventory tracking system. If the manufacturer cannot reconcile the manufacturer's physical inventory with the secure sales and inventory tracking system's inventory within 72 hours but diversion of plant material or medical cannabidiol is not suspected, the manufacturer shall immediately contact the department to report the discrepancy and to initiate a compliance action plan pursuant to paragraph 154.28(4)"b."
Item 3. Amend subrule 154.28(4) as follows:
154.28(4) Compliance required. A manufacturer shall pay for and cooperate in a timely manner with the department's requirement that it undergo an independent health and sanitary inspection in accordance with this rule.respond to deficiencies found during inspections or inventory reconciliation as follows:
a. Deficiencies not related to inventory reconciliation.
(1)Upon written notification by the department of deficiencies that do not involve reconciliation of inventory, a manufacturer shall have up to 30 days to submit an action plan to the department with proposed remedies and timelines for completion of the remedies.
(2)The department shall have up to two weeks to accept or require revision of the action plan.
b. Deficiencies related to inventory reconciliation.
(1)Upon notifying the department that the manufacturer cannot reconcile the manufacturer's physical inventory with the inventory recorded in the department's secure sales and inventory tracking system, the manufacturer shall have up to two business days to submit an action plan to the department with proposed remedies and timelines for completion of the remedies.
(2)The department shall have up to two business days to accept or require revision of the action plan.
c. Failure to complete actions in the action plan within the timelines mutually agreed upon by the manufacturer and the department shall result in assessment of penalties or in suspension or revocation of a manufacturer license as authorized by these rules.
d. At the department's request and in a timely manner, a manufacturer shall pay for and undergo an independent health and sanitary inspection in accordance with this rule.
Item 4. Amend subrule 154.51(3) as follows:
154.51(3) Reconciliation. At least once a calendar week, a dispensary shall reconcile all medical cannabidiol at the dispensary with the inventory recorded in the department's secure sales and inventory tracking system. Inconsistencies Discrepancies shall be reported to the department and law enforcement within 24 hours of discovery. handled as follows:
a. A dispensary shall report suspected diversion of medical cannabidiol to the department and law enforcement within 24 hours of discovery.
b. A dispensary shall have up to 24 hours to reconcile the dispensary's physical inventory with the inventory recorded in the secure sales and inventory tracking system. If the dispensary cannot reconcile the dispensary's physical inventory with the secure sales and inventory tracking system's inventory within 24 hours but diversion of product is not suspected, the dispensary shall immediately contact the department to report the discrepancy and to initiate a compliance action plan pursuant to paragraph 154.52(4)"b."
Item 5. Amend subrule 154.52(4) as follows:
154.52(4) Compliance required. A dispensary shall pay for and cooperate in a timely manner with the department's requirement that the dispensary undergo an independent health and sanitary inspection in accordance with this rule. respond to deficiencies found during inspections or inventory reconciliation as follows:
a. Deficiencies not related to inventory reconciliation.
(1)Upon written notification by the department of deficiencies that do not involve reconciliation of inventory, a dispensary shall have up to 30 days to submit an action plan to the department with proposed remedies and timelines for completion of the remedies.
(2)The department shall have up to two weeks to accept or require revision of the action plan.
b. Deficiencies related to inventory reconciliation.
(1)Upon notifying the department that the dispensary cannot reconcile the dispensary's physical inventory with the inventory recorded in the department's secure sales and inventory tracking system, the dispensary shall have up to two business days to submit an action plan to the department with proposed remedies and timelines for completion of the remedies.
(2)The department shall have up to two business days to accept or require revision of the action plan.
c. Failure to complete actions in the action plan within the timelines mutually agreed upon by the dispensary and the department shall result in assessment of penalties or in suspension or revocation of a dispensary license as authorized by these rules.
d. At the department's request and in a timely manner, a dispensary shall pay for and undergo an independent health and sanitary inspection in accordance with this rule.
Item 6. Amend subrule 154.72(1) as follows:
154.72(1) Cannabinoids.
a. For each unique lot of medical cannabidiol, and if asked to do so by a requester for other medical cannabis goods, a laboratory shall, at minimum, test for and report measurements for the following cannabinoid analytes:
(1)THC;
(2)THCA;
(3)CBD;
(4)CBDA;
(5)CBG; and
(6)CBN.
b. A laboratory shall report that the primary sample passed THC potency testing if the detected concentration of THC does not exceed 3 percent by weight in milligrams per milliliter (mg/ml) for liquids and milligrams per gram (mg/g) for solids and if the detected concentration of THC does not vary from the manufacturer's labeled concentration by more or less than 15 percent by weight in mg/ml for liquids and mg/g for solids. Thus, a solid product labeled as containing a concentration of THC of 10 mg/g shall have a detected concentration of THC that is no more than 11.50 mg/g and no less than 8.50 mg/g.
c. A laboratory shall report that the primary sample failed THC potency testing if the detected concentration of THC exceeds 3 percent by weight in mg/ml for liquids and mg/g for solids or if the detected concentration of THC varies from the labeled concentration of THC by more or less than 15 percent by weight in mg/ml for liquids and mg/g for solids.
d. A laboratory shall report that the primary sample passed CBD potency testing if the detected concentration of CBD does not vary from the manufacturer's labeled concentration by more or less than 15 percent by weight in mg/ml for liquids and mg/g for solids. Thus, a solid product labeled as containing a concentration of CBD of 10 mg/g shall have a detected concentration of CBD that is no more than 11.50 mg/g and no less than 8.50 mg/g.
e. A laboratory shall report that the primary sample failed potency testing if the detected concentration of CBD varies from the labeled concentration of CBD by more or less than 15 percent by weight in mg/ml for liquids and mg/g for solids.
f. For each cannabinoid analyte test, a laboratory shall issue a certificate of analysis that contains the following:
(1)Concentrations of cannabinoid analytes in mg/ml for liquids and mg/g for solids, or other measures approved by the department.
(2)Whether the primary sample passed or failed the test in accordance with paragraphs 154.72(1)"b" and 154.72(1)"c."
g. The laboratory may test for and provide test results for additional cannabinoid analytes if asked to do so by a requester.
Promoting and protecting the health of Iowans
This notice is now closed for comments. Collection of comments closed on 8/7/2018.
The official published PDF of this document is available from the Iowa General Assembly’s Administrative Rules page.
View the Iowa Administrative Bulletin for 7/18/2018.
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Rule 641-154.26(3) Rule 641-154.27(5) Rule 641-154.28(4) Rule 641-154.51(3) Rule 641-154.52(4) Rule 641-154.72(1)The following keywords and tags were added to this document. You may click a keyword to view related notices.
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