Reliable cannabis and hemp analysis with Ellutia’s 200 Series GC

The UK and Ireland’s CBD sector is expanding rapidly, with oils, supplements, cosmetics and beverages now part of mainstream retail. While industrial hemp cultivation remains tightly regulated, the number of companies manufacturing CBD products continues to grow. With this growth comes a sharper focus on accurate analysis, which ensures products meet safety standards and stand up to regulatory and consumer scrutiny.

In the UK, CBD is classed as a Novel Food. This means any consumable CBD product must undergo a pre market safety assessment by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) before it can be legally sold. Similar rules apply in Ireland under EU Novel Food legislation. Producers are also prohibited from making medical or therapeutic claims unless specifically approved, making reliable laboratory testing the cornerstone of legal compliance and consumer confidence.

Testing typically covers several key areas. Cannabinoid profiling confirms that THC remains below legal thresholds and that CBD content matches the label. Terpene analysis reveals the aromatic and sensory profile that shapes the consumer experience. Residual solvent and pesticide screening ensure that cultivation and extraction processes have not left behind harmful contaminants.

Gas Chromatography (GC) is one of the most effective tools for this work. Unlike Liquid Chromatography, which reports acidic and neutral cannabinoids separately, GC heats the sample, converting CBDA into CBD and THCA into THC. This provides a direct measure of the active compounds a consumer will actually absorb. GC is equally effective for terpene profiling and, with headspace methods, residual solvent detection. It can also be configured for pesticide analysis, making it a versatile and comprehensive option for CBD producers.

Ellutia’s 200 Series Gas Chromatograph has been designed with these requirements in mind. Compact and cost effective, it allows UK and Irish producers to bring critical testing in house. This reduces delays from outsourcing and provides rapid, defensible data to guide quality decisions. One CBD oil producer in the Netherlands, Shamanics, adopted the 200 Series GC and saw immediate benefits. By testing every batch internally, they reduced inconsistencies by 30% and gained the ability to back their product claims with confidence. “Our products have become more reputable because we have the proper testing methods in place,” said co founder Bart Roelfsema. Read the full case study here.

As the CBD industry continues to mature across the UK and Ireland, in house testing is moving from a competitive advantage to an operational necessity. The Ellutia 200 Series GC provides the accuracy and reliability producers need to meet regulatory demands and build lasting trust with consumers.

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