Access the latest issue of Nutraceuticals World and browse our extensive archives to catch up on past articles and features.
Read the full digital edition of Nutraceuticals World, complete with interactive content and enhanced features for an engaging experience.
Join our community! Subscribe to Nutraceuticals World to receive the latest industry news, insights, and updates directly to your mailbox.
Learn about Nutraceuticals World’s mission, vision, and commitment to providing valuable information and resources for the nutraceutical industry.
Discover advertising opportunities with Nutraceuticals World to connect with a targeted audience in the nutraceutical sector.
Review our editorial guidelines for contributions and submissions to ensure your content aligns with our standards.
Read about our commitment to protecting your privacy and how we handle your personal information.
Familiarize yourself with the terms and conditions governing the use of nutraceuticalsworld.com.
Dive into feature articles that provide in-depth analysis and discussions on critical topics within the nutraceutical space.
Access unique content and exclusive interviews with industry leaders and innovators, offering insights into the future of nutraceuticals.
Discover the top companies in the nutraceutical industry, highlighting their innovations and contributions to the market.
Gain valuable perspectives from suppliers on market trends, challenges, and opportunities within the nutraceutical sector.
Stay informed with regular market updates that track the latest trends and developments impacting the nutraceutical industry.
Explore mergers and acquisitions, financial performance, and investment trends shaping the nutraceutical landscape.
Learn about the latest innovations in manufacturing and formulation processes that enhance product quality and efficacy.
Discover new products and ingredients making waves in the nutraceutical market, along with their benefits and applications.
Stay updated on regulatory developments and compliance issues affecting the nutraceutical industry.
Access the latest research findings and studies that inform trends and innovations in nutraceuticals.
Learn about nutraceutical products that support beauty and wellness, focusing on ingredients that address age-related concerns.
Discover nutraceutical solutions aimed at supporting bone, joint, and muscle health for optimal mobility.
Stay informed on products and ingredients promoting cardiovascular health and wellbeing.
Explore nutraceutical options designed to support the health and development of children.
Learn about nutraceutical products that enhance cognitive function and mental clarity.
Discover nutraceutical solutions that boost energy levels and support overall vitality.
Stay updated on ingredients and products promoting eye health and vision wellness.
Explore nutraceutical offerings tailored specifically for men’s health and wellness.
Learn about nutraceuticals that promote relaxation, stress relief, and improved sleep quality.
Stay informed about antioxidant-rich ingredients that combat oxidative stress and promote overall health.
Explore the benefits of green ingredients, including superfoods and their roles in health and wellness.
Learn about the uses and benefits of herbs, botanicals, and mushrooms in the nutraceutical sector.
Discover the health benefits of omega-3s and other nutritional oils for overall wellbeing.
Stay updated on the latest research and products related to probiotics and prebiotics.
Explore the role of protein and fiber in nutrition and their importance in dietary supplements.
Learn about alternative sweeteners and their applications in the nutraceutical market.
Discover essential vitamins and minerals that support health and wellbeing in various products.
Access our buyer’s guide to find trusted suppliers and service providers in the nutraceutical market.
Identify the top companies leading the nutraceutical industry with innovative products and solutions.
Explore the capabilities of leading nutraceutical companies and their areas of expertise.
Familiarize yourself with key terms and definitions related to the nutraceutical industry.
Watch informative videos featuring industry experts discussing trends, innovations, and insights in nutraceuticals.
Enjoy short, engaging videos that provide quick insights and updates on key nutraceutical topics.
Tune in to discussions with industry leaders sharing their perspectives on trends and challenges in the nutraceutical sector.
Access comprehensive eBooks covering various topics in nutraceuticals, from formulation to marketing.
Read in-depth whitepapers that examine key issues, trends, and research findings in the nutraceutical industry.
Explore informational brochures that provide insights into specific products, companies, and market trends.
Access sponsored articles and insights from leading companies in the nutraceutical sector.
Stay informed with the latest news releases and announcements from companies in the nutraceutical industry.
Browse job opportunities in the nutraceutical sector, connecting you with potential employers.
Discover major industry events, trade shows, and conferences focused on nutraceuticals and dietary supplements.
Participate in informative webinars led by industry experts, covering various topics in nutraceuticals.
Discover exclusive live streams and updates from the hottest events and shows.
What are you searching for?
Defining standard terminology is important to the hemp and CBD industries for regulations, consumer understanding, and product manufacturing and marketing.
November 4, 2021
By: Mike Montemarano
The American Herbal Products Association (AHPA), a trade association representing the herbal and botanical products industry, has published a reference document designed to provide clear definitions for terminology unique to cultivating, regulating, labeling, and marketing hemp-based products. The Hemp Lexicon was intended to be a reference tool for the hemp industry and federal, state, tribal, and other jurisdictions that oversee the industry to provide guidance and encourage clear, consistent communication. The document was developed by a working group of the AHPA Cannabis Committee, which includes growers, manufacturers, processors, and product marketers. The Lexicon is also intended to be updated as the industry matures, and as matters are settled regarding how terms may differ between the hemp/CBD industry and the larger herbs and botanicals industry. Broadly, it covers different types of extracts, extraction methods, chemical complexity of extracts, and other terms related to the potency and purity of products. “This was a two-year process in which every iota of hemp terminology was debated,” said Patricia Kim, legal counsel for Papa and Barkley Essentials. “The goal is a uniform vocabulary for U.S. and even foreign governments, and to reduce consumer confusion while allowing the industry itself to define terms.” Likewise, Kim said, the guidance document is not meant to exist in a vacuum, and is intended to evolve over time and remain in cohesion with other industry guidance documents. Even terms such as “broad-spectrum hemp extract” aren’t yet widely understood, Kim said, but are especially important. For example, THC levels are of concern especially to those who are drug-tested for work. “Language still has to become clear regarding which extracts have actual plant constituents fully represented, and which extracts have THC or are THC-free,” she said. “Lexicon labeling implications are where the rubber is going to meet the road.” AHPA: ‘We’ve Got History’ AHPA President Michael McGuffin said that as a trade association in the herbs and botanicals industry, AHPA has long served as a guide for the industry, consumers, and regulators when it comes to identifying botanical ingredients. “Consumers who have been using herbal products for decades are now using hemp products, and we want to make sure that they have clear and consistent terms to help understand hemp products,” McGuffin said. “AHPA was busy defining terms like full- and broad-spectrum 20 years ago.” Following the publication of Herbs of Commerce in 1992, for example, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration incorporated it as a reference for federal regulations. Other international regulatory authorities have also relied on AHPA guidance documents. The organization’s ambition to do the same for the hemp industry is lockstep with past achievements, McGuffin said. “The Lexicon is brought to you by the same people who made ‘aerial parts’ a part of FDA’s list of definitions, and defined rational labeling for liquid product proportions. Because of AHPA, herbal tinctures are now codified by volume today. AHPA helped bring herbs into the definition of compliance for the National Organic Program, crop groups 25 and 26 [which have specific EPA pesticide regulations attached to them], and pushed back against trademarking of the word ‘herbalist.’ Rarely if ever has AHPA worked in isolation, and whether we work with herbal companies, industry groups, or government agencies, AHPA has played a role in every significant measure, so we’ve been there before.” Regulatory Importance According to McGuffin, it still makes sense for hemp and CBD companies to model the industry in a way that conforms broadly to dietary supplement regulations, even amid ongoing uncertainty about the statuses of CBD isolate and broad- and full-spectrum hemp extracts. Further, it will aid in the work being done to clarify CBD’s regulatory status as an ingredient which consumers use similarly to other herbal supplements. While FDA seems less than inclined to establish a legal pathway to market for CBD-containing products, clarity in terminology will help both the agency and elected officials understand how these products differ from a CBD isolate, McGuffin said. “There is a shared view that FDA will throw up obstacles to progress for the inclusion of hemp ingredients in foods and supplements. We need to work with both the agency and Congress directly to elaborate on their understandings of the terms ‘broad-’ and ‘full-spectrum’ in relation to CBD, but also in relation to herbal products generally. Now is the time to do this, especially with hemp sales flat or soft, with continued resistance from regulators, and with interest from people in Congress.” Much of the inconsistency behind hemp and CBD terminology is rooted in the fact that there are no current federal regulations on labeling, marketing, or manufacturing of hemp products containing CBD, said Debby Miran, consultant at Miran Consulting and former commissioner of the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission. With industry-led guidance, the Lexicon can potentially be a source to make federal regulations consistent and with fewer gray areas. “It’s because states were forced to create their own rules that we have to deal with a patchwork of definitions and terminology,” Miran said. “Hemp can be legally grown in all 50 states, but CBD products are only allowed in 15 states, with 15 other states legalizing CBD products per statute. Eighteen states are completely silent about CBD-containing products.” Miran pointed to the fact that in state statutes, there are inconsistencies in the definitions of the word “cannabidiol” itself. Some of these more recently-formed definitions, crafted to prohibit the sales of delta-8 THC products, conflate the terms psychoactive with intoxicating, which could be concerning in the future. AHPA’s definition of cannabidiol, specifically, is its exact chemical formula and structure. However, Florida’s definition is a “compound by the same name derived from the hemp variety of Cannabis sativa L.” Meanwhile, New York’s definition is “naturally occurring hemp-derived cannabinoids, but does not include synthetic cannabidiol.” Michigan’s definition, “a substance derived from the cannabis plant that does not have any psychoactive effects,” is perhaps the broadest in any state statute, Miran said. “Definitions can be difficult to finish, and certain terms can have multiple definitions,” Miran said. “We thought to create consistency in the hemp space with established herbal and botanical terms wherever possible. But the industry also often uses terms for marketing purposes, including certain terms which are nonsensical, such as “PCR,” which stands for phytocannabinoid-rich and has no true definition.”
Enter your account email.
A verification code was sent to your email, Enter the 6-digit code sent to your mail.
Didn't get the code? Check your spam folder or resend code
Set a new password for signing in and accessing your data.
Your Password has been Updated !