Why the Same Product Can Pass in One State and Fail in Another
Building on the state-level variation and full panel testing content discussed elsewhere in this publication, pesticide testing is an area where the rules differ more than many buyers expect. Action limits, the list of analytes, and the products they apply to can vary by state.
What an Action Limit Is
An action limit is the maximum concentration of a given pesticide residue allowed in a product. Results above the limit generally make the product non-compliant for sale in that jurisdiction, regardless of how it performed elsewhere.
Where Variation Shows Up
Which compounds are tested. Some states require testing for a long list of pesticide analytes, while others require fewer or rely on more general standards.
How strict the limits are. The same compound may have a lower allowed concentration in one state than another, and limits may differ for inhalable versus ingestible products.
Which product types are covered. Requirements can differ for flower, extracts, edibles, and beverages.
Why This Matters for Multi-State Sellers
A COA showing a pass under one state's panel does not guarantee a pass under another's. Operators selling across states should compare the analyte list and limits on the COA against each destination state's requirements, as emphasized in the multi-state compliance discussion elsewhere in this publication.
Practical Steps for Buyers
- Ask suppliers which state or standard the pesticide panel was run against
- Request panels that cover the strictest standard among your target states where practical
- Confirm the lab's reporting limits are low enough to verify compliance with the strictest limit you face
- Keep documentation of the specific panel used for each batch
Testing Upstream
Because extraction can concentrate residues, as discussed in the extraction methods content, testing starting material before processing helps avoid costly failures later.
Low Gravity Hemp runs pesticide panels designed to meet strict multi-state standards and documents the standard used on every COA. Contact us to review sample reports.
