Analytical Testing Licence
Within the Cannabis Regulations that are coming into force in October of 2018, one type of facility licence is focused exclusively on analytical testing, namely the Analytical Testing Licence.
Prior to the new regulations, an analytical testing lab would have achieved a Dealer’s Licence under the Narcotic Control Regulations in addition to other types of licences for testing other kinds of products (e.g., pharmaceutical, health products, etc.). Moving forward, the Analytical Testing Licence would permit a facility to conduct analytical testing on finished cannabis products.
With each “batch” of cannabis released for sale (medical or recreational), an extensive series of chemical and microbiological analysis must be carried out to verify its purity and potency. The list of required tests is long, many of which require specific, individual pieces of analytical equipment or multiple tests within each section, as well as qualified personnel to operate them. A facility with an Analytical Testing Licence would provide these services for other licensed cannabis companies (e.g., Standard Cultivator), as it is often cost-prohibitive for licensed producers to conduct such tests in-house.
Analytical licensing allows for the possession and alteration of cannabis (and cannabis derivatives) in small quantities. Due to the lower threshold for permitted quantities of cannabis permitted, the physical security requirements are lower than what is required for (e.g.) a Standard Processor or R&D Licence. Personnel requirements are likewise reduced, and the Head of Laboratory position must develop and maintain a framework that ensures analytical processes are validated, accurate and compliant.
Cannabis Compliance Inc can provide a full application package to Health Canada to achieve an Analytical Testing Licence, including (but not limited to): floor planning, equipment and processing planning for specific analyses (micro/chemical), method development, recruitment, operational readiness and auditing for continued compliance verification. Contact us today to start the conversation.
