A UK-focused glossary covering certificates of analysis, analytical methods, quality systems, novel foods, advertising claims, controlled cannabinoids and responsible retail terminology.
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UK review date: 23 July 2026. This glossary is educational and provides concise summaries only. Product classification, legal status and compliance are fact-specific and should be checked against current official guidance and specialist advice.
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Testing, Quality & Lab Reports
Quality, lab-report and testing terms used to explain transparency and product verification.
COA (Certificate Of Analysis)
A Certificate of Analysis summarises laboratory results for a sample or batch. A COA is most useful when the batch matches the product, the method and reporting limits are stated, and the relevant tests are within the laboratory’s accredited scope; it is not a regulatory approval.
Third-Party Testing
Third-party testing is testing performed by an organisation independent of the brand or manufacturer. Independence does not automatically mean the laboratory or every test method is accredited, so the accreditation scope and method should be checked.
Batch Testing
Batch testing means testing a specific production batch for consistency and quality.
Batch Number
A batch number identifies a specific production run and supports traceability.
Cannabinoid Profile
A cannabinoid profile shows which cannabinoids are present in a product and at what levels.
Terpene Profile
A terpene profile shows the aroma compounds present in a terpene blend or extract.
Certificate Matching
Certificate matching means checking a product batch against the correct lab report or COA.
Limit Of Detection (LOD)
The limit of detection is the lowest level at which a method can distinguish that an analyte is present, although it may not be accurately quantified at that level.
Limit Of Quantification (LOQ)
The limit of quantification is the lowest level at which a method can quantify an analyte with stated performance. It is normally higher than the limit of detection.
Residual Solvents
Residual solvents are leftover processing solvents that may be tested for in some extracts.
Heavy Metals
Heavy metals are contaminants such as lead, cadmium, arsenic or mercury that may be screened in quality testing.
Pesticides
Pesticides are agricultural chemicals that may be screened in quality testing.
Microbial Testing
Microbial testing checks for unwanted microorganisms such as bacteria, yeast or mould.
Purity
Purity refers to how refined or concentrated an ingredient is, such as high-purity CBD isolate.
Raw Material
Raw material is the starting ingredient used to make a product before processing or formulation.
Bulking Agent
An ingredient used to give tablets structure and volume, such as microcrystalline cellulose or dicalcium phosphate.
Anti-Caking Agent
An ingredient used to keep powders and tablets free-flowing, such as silicon dioxide or magnesium stearate.
ISO/IEC 17025
ISO/IEC 17025 is the international standard for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories. Accreditation is method- and scope-specific and is not a product certification.
Accredited Laboratory
An accredited laboratory has been independently assessed for specified activities. Accreditation applies only to the methods and matrices listed in its current scope, not automatically to every test the laboratory offers.
Potency Testing
Potency testing measures the strength or concentration of active ingredients, such as cannabinoid content in a CBD product.
Contaminant Testing
Contaminant testing checks for unwanted substances such as heavy metals, pesticides, residual solvents, microbes or other impurities.
Finished Product Testing
Finished-product testing examines the final marketed formulation or dosage unit rather than only a raw ingredient. It can identify formulation, dilution, homogeneity or contamination issues not visible in a raw-material COA.
Raw Material Specification
A raw material specification sets the expected identity, quality, purity and testing requirements for an ingredient before it is used in production.
Traceability
Traceability is the ability to track a product or ingredient back through batch numbers, suppliers, production records and lab reports.
ND / Not Detected
ND, or not detected, means the analyte was not detected at or above the method’s stated detection or reporting limit. It does not mean absolute zero.
ppm / ppb
ppm and ppb mean parts per million and parts per billion. These units are often used in contaminant or lab-report results.
Microgram / µg
A microgram, shown as µg, is one millionth of a gram and is commonly used for very small measured amounts.
Shelf Life
Shelf life is the period during which a product is expected to remain suitable for use when stored according to label guidance.
Stability Testing
Stability testing evaluates how a product’s quality attributes change over time under defined storage conditions. It supports shelf-life, packaging and storage decisions and should include attributes relevant to the actual formulation.
Analytical Method
An analytical method is the documented procedure used to identify or measure an analyte. The method should specify preparation, instrument conditions, calibration, calculations, units and quality controls.
HPLC
High-performance liquid chromatography separates and measures compounds in a liquid-phase system. It is commonly used for cannabinoid potency because acidic and neutral cannabinoids can be measured without the high heat used in gas chromatography.
GC–MS
Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry separates volatile compounds and identifies them by mass spectrum. Heated injection can convert acidic cannabinoids, so the method and calculations must be understood when interpreting cannabinoid results.
LC–MS/MS
Liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry is a sensitive and selective technique used for low-level quantification and confirmatory analysis of cannabinoids, contaminants and other analytes.
Method Validation
Method validation demonstrates that an analytical method is suitable for its intended purpose using characteristics such as selectivity, accuracy, precision, range, recovery, detection limits and robustness.
Measurement Uncertainty
Measurement uncertainty expresses the range around a reported result within which the true value is reasonably expected to lie. It matters when a result is close to a specification or legal threshold.
Reporting Limit / LOR
The reporting limit is the lowest level at which a laboratory routinely reports a numerical result or a defined “less than” value. It is method-, matrix- and laboratory-specific and may differ from LOD or LOQ.
Accuracy
Accuracy describes how close a measured result is to an accepted reference or true value within the limits of the method.
Precision
Precision describes how closely repeated measurements agree with one another. A method can be precise without being accurate.
Repeatability
Repeatability is precision under the same operating conditions over a short period, such as the same analyst, instrument and laboratory.
Recovery
Recovery is the proportion of an analyte that a method extracts and measures from a sample, often assessed by adding a known amount to the matrix.
Matrix
The matrix is everything in a sample other than the analyte being measured, such as oil, gummy, cream or vape liquid. Different matrices can require different preparation and validation.
Matrix Effect
A matrix effect occurs when other sample components suppress or enhance the analytical signal, potentially affecting accuracy unless controlled or corrected.
Acceptance Criteria
Acceptance criteria are the predefined limits or conditions a material, batch or result must meet to be accepted.
Specification
A specification is a controlled document setting required tests, methods and acceptance criteria for a raw material, packaging component or finished product.
Out of Specification (OOS)
An out-of-specification result falls outside an approved acceptance criterion. It should trigger a documented investigation rather than being discarded or retested without justification.
Mycotoxins
Mycotoxins are toxic compounds produced by certain moulds. Ingredients such as botanicals, mushrooms and hemp may be screened for relevant mycotoxins using suitable methods.
Water Activity
Water activity measures the water available to support microbial growth and chemical reactions. It is different from total moisture content and can help assess shelf stability.
Total Aerobic Microbial Count (TAMC)
TAMC estimates the total number of viable aerobic microorganisms in a sample under the specified test conditions.
Yeast and Mould Count
Yeast and mould count measures viable yeasts and moulds in a sample and is commonly included in microbiological specifications for foods, supplements and cosmetics.
Bioburden
Bioburden is the quantity and type of viable microorganisms present in a material or product before any sterilisation or microbial-control step.
UKAS Accreditation
UKAS is the United Kingdom Accreditation Service, the national body that accredits UK laboratories. A valid UKAS schedule should be checked to confirm that the specific method and matrix are within scope.
GACP
Good Agricultural and Collection Practice covers controls for cultivation, harvesting and collection of plant materials. It supports traceability and raw-material consistency but is not a substitute for finished-product testing.
Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP)
Good Manufacturing Practice is a quality system for consistent production and control. The applicable GMP framework depends on the product category; cosmetic GMP, food systems and pharmaceutical GMP are not interchangeable.
HACCP
Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point is a preventive food-safety system used to identify, evaluate and control significant hazards in production.
BRCGS
BRCGS publishes certification standards used by many food, packaging and consumer-product sites. Certification relates to the assessed site and scope and is not a guarantee for every individual product.
Digital COA / QR-Code COA
A digital or QR-code COA links a product to laboratory information online. The link should resolve to the correct batch and preserve the original report, laboratory identity, methods, dates and reporting limits.
Accelerated Stability Testing
Accelerated stability testing uses elevated or stressed conditions to identify likely degradation pathways and support provisional shelf-life decisions. It should be supported by scientifically justified conditions and, where appropriate, real-time data.
UK Compliance & Advisory Terms
Regulatory, advisory and responsible-retail terms relevant to CBD, supplements, cosmetics and pet-related questions in the UK.
Food Supplement / Dietary Supplement
A food supplement is a concentrated source of nutrients or other substances intended to supplement the normal diet. “Dietary supplement” is common international wording; UK food law and labels normally use “food supplement”. It is regulated as food and must not be presented as treating, preventing or curing disease.
Not A Medicine
A retail CBD food, food supplement or cosmetic is not a medicine unless the individual product is authorised as a medicinal product or falls within medicines regulation because of its presentation or function. Non-medicinal products must not be marketed as diagnosing, treating, preventing or curing disease.
Medical / Medicinal Claim
A medical or medicinal claim suggests that a product can diagnose, treat, prevent or cure disease, or otherwise has a medicinal function. A CBD product making such claims may be classified as a medicine and require a marketing authorisation.
Disease Treatment Claim
A disease treatment claim implies a product can treat or prevent a disease, which is not appropriate for food supplements or cosmetics.
Health Claim
A health claim states, suggests or implies a relationship between a food or ingredient and health. For foods and food supplements, the claim must be authorised and used under its conditions of use.
General Health Claim
A general, non-specific reference to health or wellbeing must be accompanied by an appropriate specific authorised health claim where the food-claims rules require it. There are no authorised health claims for CBD on the GB register at this review date.
Authorised Health Claim
An authorised health claim is approved for use under applicable nutrition and health-claims rules.
GB Nutrition & Health Claims Register
The GB register lists authorised nutrition and health claims that may be used where conditions are met.
Novel Food
Novel food refers to foods or ingredients that require authorisation because they were not widely consumed before the relevant regulatory cut-off date.
FSA Public List / CBD Public List
The FSA Public List identifies CBD food products linked to novel-food applications that may remain tolerated on the market in England and Wales while their applications progress. Inclusion is not approval, endorsement or full authorisation, and products must still meet all other legal requirements.
CBD Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI)
The FSA’s provisional acceptable daily intake for healthy adults is 10 mg of CBD per day from all food sources combined. This is precautionary food-safety guidance, not a product-authorisation decision or a controlled-drug limit.
Δ9-THC
Δ9-THC refers to delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol, the form of THC most commonly associated with intoxicating effects.
Responsible Retail
Responsible retail means selling products in a way that respects age restrictions, labelling rules, safety guidance and customer suitability.
Age Verification
Age verification confirms that a buyer meets a legal or retailer-set age requirement. Vapes are age-restricted products; an adult-only policy for other wellness products should be described as a retailer policy unless a specific law applies.
Adult Use
Adult use means a product or range is intended for adults, often under a retailer’s 18+ policy. It should not be presented as proof that every CBD food is subject to a general statutory age-18 rule.
Consult A Professional
People with health concerns should seek advice from an appropriately qualified healthcare professional. For CBD foods, the FSA advises under-18s, people taking medication, and people who are pregnant, breastfeeding or trying to conceive to avoid CBD unless under medical direction.
Allergen Check
Always review the ingredient list and product label for allergen information before use.
VMD
The Veterinary Medicines Directorate regulates veterinary medicines in the UK and considers products containing CBD that are intended for animals to be veterinary medicines.
Veterinary Medicine
A veterinary medicine is a product regulated for use in animals.
Prescribing Cascade
The veterinary prescribing cascade is a framework that may allow a veterinary surgeon to prescribe an alternative where no suitable authorised veterinary medicine is available. It does not make an unapproved retail CBD pet product generally lawful.
Animal-Use CBD
CBD products intended or presented for use in animals are considered veterinary medicines by the VMD and require the appropriate veterinary-medicine route. A human-use CBD product should not be relabelled or recommended for pets.
Human-Use Product
A human-use product is labelled and supplied for human use, not animal use.
Veterinary Surgeon
A veterinary surgeon is a qualified professional authorised to advise on animal health and veterinary medicines.
Pregnancy, Breastfeeding and Trying to Conceive
The FSA advises people who are pregnant, breastfeeding or trying to conceive to avoid CBD foods unless under medical direction.
Medication Interaction
CBD can interact with some medicines. The FSA advises people taking any medication to avoid CBD foods unless under medical direction; a generic “consult your doctor” statement should not be used to weaken that advice.
Storage Guidance
Storage guidance explains how to store a product to maintain quality and stability.
Novel Food Authorisation
Novel-food authorisation is formal permission to market a novel food under specified conditions after safety assessment and risk management. It is different from appearing on the FSA Public List while an application progresses.
Validated Application
A validated application has passed the regulator’s validation checks and entered the assessment process. Validation is not safety approval, endorsement or market authorisation.
Awaiting Evidence
Awaiting evidence is a Public List status indicating that information is still required or the application has not yet completed validation. It is not an authorisation status.
Removed Product
A removed product is no longer shown as eligible on the relevant Public List route. A product marked removed, or absent from the applicable list, should not be treated as market-compliant without further regulatory and legal checks.
MHRA
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency regulates medicines and medical devices and operates relevant vape notification systems. A CBD product marketed for a medical purpose may be treated as a medicine.
ASA
ASA stands for the Advertising Standards Authority, the UK organisation that regulates advertising standards.
CAP Code
The CAP Code is the UK advertising code for non-broadcast marketing communications, including many website and online advertising claims.
Nutrition Claim
A nutrition claim states or implies that a product has particular beneficial nutritional properties, such as containing a vitamin or mineral.
Vulnerable Groups
For CBD foods, the FSA identifies under-18s, people taking medication, people who are pregnant or breastfeeding, and people trying to conceive as groups who should avoid CBD unless under medical direction. Other health conditions may also require professional advice.
Drug Testing
Drug tests generally target THC or its metabolites rather than CBD. Trace exposure is possible even from products described as THC-free, so no CBD product should be presented as guaranteeing a negative drug-test result.
Workplace Drug Test
A workplace drug test is testing conducted under an employer or occupational policy. Anyone subject to testing should review the policy and understand that product labels and COAs cannot guarantee a negative result.
Marketing Authorisation
A marketing authorisation is formal permission for a medicinal product to be sold, supplied or advertised in the UK, unless a specific exemption applies. It is separate from food, cosmetic or vape notification routes.
Unauthorised Health Claim
An unauthorised health claim is a health-related statement that is not approved for use under applicable nutrition and health-claims rules.
Pre-Market Authorisation
Pre-market authorisation means a product or ingredient must receive formal permission before it is legally placed on the market. Novel foods and medicines are examples, but the responsible authority and process depend on the product category.
Reformulation
Reformulation means changing a product formula, often to improve quality, meet updated guidance or support compliance requirements.
FSA (Food Standards Agency)
The Food Standards Agency is responsible for food safety and food regulation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, with jurisdiction-specific arrangements. It manages the CBD Public List for England and Wales and the regulated-products process with relevant authorities.
Food Standards Scotland (FSS)
Food Standards Scotland is responsible for food and feed safety and novel-food regulation in Scotland. Scotland has its own ministerial authorisation decisions and should not be treated as identical to the England and Wales Public List route.
Total Daily CBD Intake
Total daily CBD intake is the sum of CBD consumed from all food products in a day, including oils, capsules, gummies and drinks. The FSA’s 10 mg advice applies to that combined total for a healthy adult.
Public List Does Not Mean Authorised
A product’s presence on the FSA Public List means it is linked to a progressing novel-food application and may be tolerated on the England and Wales market. It does not mean the FSA has approved, endorsed or fully authorised the product.
Authorised Novel Food
An authorised novel food has completed the regulatory process and may be marketed only within the approved identity, specifications, uses and conditions. This is a different status from a product linked to a pending CBD application.
No Authorised CBD Health Claims
At the July 2026 review date, there were no authorised health claims for CBD on the Great Britain Nutrition and Health Claims Register. CBD foods must not be marketed with general or specific health claims unless the legal position changes and all conditions are met.
England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
UK product rules are not always identical across all four nations. The FSA CBD Public List applies to England and Wales, Food Standards Scotland handles Scotland, and Northern Ireland can follow separate EU or Windsor Framework routes depending on the product and movement pathway.
Northern Ireland Retail Movement Scheme (NIRMS)
NIRMS provides a route for eligible prepacked retail agri-food goods moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland under the Windsor Framework. Whether a CBD food can use the route depends on current authorisation and scheme requirements.
The “0.2% THC Rule”
The commonly quoted 0.2% figure relates to particular hemp cultivation contexts and is not a general legality threshold for finished CBD oils, gummies, cosmetics or vape products in the UK. Finished products require separate controlled-drug and product-category assessment.
One-Milligram Controlled-Drug Threshold
Under the Home Office interpretation of the exempt-product definition, no component part may contain more than 1 mg of each controlled drug. The applicable component part is generally the container, not a suggested serving, and every controlled cannabinoid must be considered.
Exempt Product / Three-Limb Test
An exempt product under Regulation 2 of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001 must satisfy all three conditions: it is not designed to administer the controlled drug; the controlled drug cannot be readily recovered in a risky yield; and no component part contains more than 1 mg of each controlled drug. The assessment is product-specific and suitably sensitive testing is required.
Container / Component Part
For the one-milligram limb of the Home Office exempt-product guidance, the relevant component part is generally the container, such as the bottle, rather than a stated dose or serving. Packaging configuration can therefore affect the calculation.
Home Office Controlled-Drug Guidance
The Home Office publishes guidance on cannabis, CBD, controlled cannabinoids, licensing and the exempt-product definition. The guidance is not legal advice and must be considered alongside food, medicines, cosmetics, vape and other product rules.
Product-Specific Legal Assessment
CBD compliance depends on the actual product, formulation, intended use, claims, packaging, market and test results. A supplier statement, low percentage or isolated ingredient COA does not by itself establish that every finished product is lawful.
Official UK Sources & Review Note
Last reviewed: 23 July 2026. This glossary is educational and provides concise summaries only. Product classification, legal status and compliance are fact-specific and should be checked against current official guidance and specialist advice.
- Food Standards Agency: Cannabidiol consumer guidance
- FSA register of CBD products linked to novel-food applications
- Food Standards Scotland: Cannabidiol guidance
- Home Office: cannabis, CBD and controlled-cannabinoid factsheet
- MHRA statement on CBD products and medicines
- MHRA: e-cigarette regulations and notifications
- UK single-use vape ban guidance
- Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026
- OPSS: making cosmetic products available in Great Britain
- ASA/CAP: CBD-containing products
- VMD statement on CBD products for animals