Illinois cannabis testing requirements

Required tests

• Potency
• Pesticides
• Residual solvents
• Heavy metals
• Microbials
• Mycotoxins

ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation

Not required. Accreditation is required, but the standard is not named: labs must be accredited by a private laboratory accrediting organization and send IDOA each annual accreditation inspection report (410 ILCS 705/50-5(b); 8 Ill. Adm. Code 1000.500(b)(1)). Since P.A. 104-463 (effective June 12, 2026) labs must also be licensed by IDOA.

Notes

• Primary regulator is IDOA because it approves (and now licenses) testing labs, sets testing standards (410 ILCS 705/50-5), and runs the State Cannabis Reference Laboratory (Bureau of Cannabis Testing). IDFPR licenses dispensaries; IDPH runs the medical patient registry.
• Required panel (8 Ill. Adm. Code 1300.700(a)): microbiological contaminants, mycotoxins, pesticide active ingredients, residual solvent, heavy metals, and an active ingredient (potency) analysis. The statute (50-5(c)) lists the same tests except heavy metals, which IDOA added by rule.
• Microbials: total aerobic bacteria, total yeast and mold, total coliforms, bile-tolerant gram-negative bacteria, and E. coli (pathogenic strains) and Salmonella, using American Herbal Pharmacopoeia limits. Mycotoxins: aflatoxins B1, B2, G1, G2 and ochratoxin A (<20 µg/kg each).
• Heavy metals: lead, inorganic arsenic, mercury, cadmium, chromium, with separate limits for inhaled and other products. Pesticides: most stringent 40 CFR 180 food tolerance. Residual solvents: limits differ for products intended for inhalation and those that are not.
• IDOA's Types of Testing page says terpene, foreign material, moisture and water activity testing are optional, not required.
• Sampling: a 7–15 g representative sample per batch; cured-flower batches are capped at 20 lb (1300.700(c)-(d)). IDOA may pull its own samples to verify label potency.
• A failed pesticide test means the batch is recalled and destroyed. Other failures may be remediated into a CO2 or solvent extract, which must then pass all tests (1300.700(g)).
• Labs must be independent of all licensees, located in Illinois (1300.10 'Laboratory' definition), and employ a qualified supervising scientist (master's + 2 years or bachelor's + 4 years of experience). They must report failed batches to IDOA and keep results for 5 years.
• Medical-program rules (8 Ill. Adm. Code 1000.500-.510; Part 1000 last amended 2015) list the same tests without heavy metals. The CRTA shares agency authority across both programs (410 ILCS 705/5-5). IDOA's Reference Lab page cites 410 ILCS 705 Art. 50 and Section 1300.700 as the lab rules.
• Pending: P.A. 104-463 requires IDOA lab licensure, but no implementing rules are in Part 1300 yet. Part 1300 (including 1300.700) was last amended effective May 1, 2026.