If you feel like you’re stepping through a minefield when labeling CBD products, you’re not alone. Thanks to complicated and sometimes contradictory requirements, many companies have found themselves targeted by lawsuits claiming that they violated federal or state laws in their packaging, labeling and marketing of CBD products. In this article we’ll take a look at some of the current requirements, as well as what we can expect to see from CBD companies going forward.
What are the requirements?
It’s important to consult the guidelines and requirements for CBD set by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). With that said, it’s equally important to understand the CBD packaging laws in your state, as these laws vary considerably.
Wherever you happen to reside, there are a few things you should always remember when labeling your CBD products:
Product identity has to be featured on the Product Display Panel. In other words, you must clearly describe what the product is and what it does—and the description must be conspicuous.
The product’s net contents, including the quantity of CBD per serving, must be clearly expressed on both the outer and inner containers. For liquid products, the amount must be measured by volume; for solid products, it must be measured by weight.
A full list of ingredients is required for all CBD products. This must feature on the outer container. You may also want to include the ingredients somewhere on the inner container.
Your label should feature cautionary information about how to safely use the CBD product. This includes any relevant warnings for children, pregnant women, and people taking certain medications that could interact with the product.
Many labels also include extra information like tasting notes. A CBD-infused beverage with added terpenes might impart citrus notes, for example.
How QR Codes are Being Used on CBD Packaging
Quick Response codes, or QR codes, are specific types of barcodes that interact with modern imaging devices like smartphone cameras. Once scanned, the information contained in the QR code is presented in a readable format. QR codes are becoming increasingly popular in a variety of industries throughout the world.
A number of US states, including Indiana, Oregon and Utah, now stipulate that CBD products can only be sold if the package features a QR code. But many companies located in other states are also embracing QR codes as a convenient way to meet some of the requirements listed above, and also to include additional product information of their choosing.
Among other things, a QR code can inform the customer about a CBD product’s ingredients, expiration date, and third-party certificate of analysis. QR codes also frequently contain information about the quantity of active CBD per container and per serving.
The Evolution of QR Codes to Augmented Reality
Some companies are taking QR codes one step further with augmented reality. Using this novel technology, businesses are able to provide information to customers in an exciting and dynamic way. When a customer scans the trigger code with his or her smart device, they are presented with an interactive advertisement that functions as a live tutorial.
In this example, featuring an augmented reality experience for a whiskey that is finished in IPA beer barrels, customers are able to scan the label to see an animated story of the product's inception. The application also includes exclusive special offers, competitions, and cocktail recipes.
Similar use cases for CBD products could include animated stories tracking the product from field to bottle, an x-ray of the product revealing the contents inside, or providing complete laboratory test results for the batch in question and detailed information about the farm where the product was grown.
Clearly, augmented reality holds enormous potential for the CBD industry. It’s safe to assume that we’ll be seeing a lot more companies experimenting with this technology in the coming years, especially as labeling and marketing regulations become more standardized.
For information on how to label your CBD products, please contact Century Label today for all your CBD labeling and packaging needs.
Article written for Century Label by Eric Van Buskirk
