MJ Biz Report Warns Producers About New Rules From Australia’s TGA – Will Supply Be Reduced.. Most Likely Yes

The question is.. will exporters to Australia all rush to be GMP compliant or will they just determine that costs of compliance are too high and thus look for other markets which in turn will reduce the availability of product in the Australian medical market. We suggest the latter

MJ Biz write

Australia’s Department of Health, preparing to overhaul its medical cannabis regulations, is poised to require that all products imported into the country’s small but growing market be produced in accordance with Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP).

The move would effectively shut out non-GMP-compliant manufacturers operating overseas by bringing production rules governing imported medical cannabis products into line with those produced domestically.

The proposed rules, which also cover labeling and packaging, are currently before the World Trade Organization (WTO), where member countries have until late February to submit comments.

One of the most meaningful changes involves imported medical cannabis products, which currently don’t have to adhere to the same strict quality production requirements as locally made ones.

The government currently requires Australian medical cannabis manufacturers to comply with Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards. However, a similar requirement does not apply to products imported into Australia.

That has led to charges of unfair competition favoring internationally produced medical marijuana.

Imported medicinal cannabis products will be required to be manufactured on sites with “acceptable” GMP standards, according to the proposed rules.

The companies importing the goods, known as sponsors, will have to maintain evidence to show compliance for each batch of medical cannabis products they import.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), which oversees access to unapproved medical cannabis treatments in Australia via the Special Access Scheme, said it will provide “clear guidance” on the GMP practices and evidence that will be required.

The government has pledged an unspecified “reasonable” transition period so companies can adapt to the new requirements.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the TGA will not be requiring sponsors of offshore manufacturers to comply with a unique Australian manufacturing standard,” the TGA said in the WTO notice.

“Sponsors will be able to rely on a manufacturer’s adherence to an internationally accepted GMP standard – of a type acceptable to the TGA – that may be specific to that manufacturer’s country.”

The new rules will also require child-resistant packaging, plus:

  • Labeling that better identifies active ingredients.
  • Clarity on microbiological testing requirements.

“The objectives of the package of reforms are to provide assistance to patients and medicinal practitioners to identify equivalent products within the large range of products available,” according to the WTO document.

“This will be achieved by requiring more information on product labels.”

More at  https://mjbizdaily.com/australias-new-cannabis-import-rules-could-leave-non-gmp-producers-in-the-cold/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_campaign=MJD_20220127_NEWS_Daily

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