What Is ICAP™?
The International Cannabinoid Analysis Program (ICAP™) is a third-party certification program for manufacturers and brands. When a brand gets products certified by ICAP™ it's a signal that they're committed to transparency through science. It is designed to increase confidence and improve decision making for cannabis, hemp, and their extracts or derivative products.
What does ICAP™ Test?
The International Cannabinoid Analysis Program is a cannabinoid compliance program for CBD, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ-9-THC), and other cannabinoid products. It ensures that consumer products and ingredients meet label claims related to the concentration of THC, CBD, and other minor cannabinoids. The program also ensures that these products have been tested for contaminants such as heavy metals, pesticides, residual solvents, mycotoxins, and microbial contamination.
The two variations of this certification can be used in conjunction or separate from each other. The THC Certified mark is a customizable certification that demonstrates compliance (<0.30% THC) or guarantees potency (25% THC, for example). The CBD Certified mark verifies that heavy metals, pesticides, and other contaminants are not present or do not exceed harmful levels.
This program enables dietary supplement companies to be compliant with a variety of regulatory and retail requirements such as the proposed New York regulations for CBD products. Similar regulations around the structure of hemp extract products have been proposed in numerous geographical locations globally.
Analytical testing is the only method for ensuring cannabinoid products are compliant with label claims, legal and regulatory limits, and free of potential contaminants.
See ICAP™ testing limits in Certified Product Reports.
What Are Cannabinoids?
Cannabinoids are a group of chemical compounds concentrated primarily in the flowers of cannabis plants that act on the endocannabinoid system in the human body. There are over 480 different compounds present in the Cannabis sativa plant; however, only 113 are cannabinoids.
The most well-known among these compounds is the delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC), which is the primary psychoactive ingredient in cannabis and is responsible for the intoxicating effects most people associate with cannabis use.
When cannabis is consumed, cannabinoids bind to receptor sites within the endocannabinoid system, called CB-1, and CB-2. Each cannabinoid has different effects depending on which receptor sites they interact with.
For example, THC is known to bind to CB-1 receptors located in your brain, but CBN (Cannabinol) has a strong affinity for CB-2 receptors located throughout your body. Depending on the cannabis products cannabinoid profile, different types of experiences can be achieved.
What Types of Products Are Tested?
ICAP™ tests a variety of different products containing CBD.
- Whole or cut & sifted plant or specific plant parts
- Powders
- Liquids
- Oils
- Extracts
- Isolates
- Emulsions
- Single ingredient product (capsule, tablet, softgel, etc)
- Multi ingredient product (capsule, tablet, softgel, etc)
- Topical cream, lotion, wax
- Cosmetics
- Gummies
- Lozenge or hard candy
- Food/candy bar
- Ready-to-drink beverage
- Vaporizing Liquid
Stand Out From the Crowd
What makes certified companies different? ICAP™ Certified companies:
- Have confidence in the quality, purity, and safety of their products.
- Are committed to transparency and the consumer's right to know.
- Put their customers' health and safety first.
- Are willing to test their products against the highest industry standards worldwide.