Beginning in October 2019, cannabis processors will be able to start producing new classes of cannabis products. Health Canada is now accepting license amendments to allow for the production of edibles, topicals and other cannabis extracts at licensed facilities. This approval process will require that your company meet certain standards to accommodate for these new classes of products, new equipment, and ingredients.

Any change to a company’s production objectives will require an amendment to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) that all staff must be trained on. With new products, it will mean new ingredients and new suppliers. Any ingredient that you use in the production of a cannabis product must be traceable to its original source and the supplier must be authorized or licensed to distribute that ingredient.

Similarly, there will be new protocols, and new equipment for staff to learn. More production staff may be hired to accommodate for these new products or to fill in skill gaps when it comes to food and cosmetics. Persons with a background in food safety and cosmetics production will become valuable assets to the cannabis industry.

It’s important to know that products which contain any cannabinoid extract will require a cannabis processing licence. Even when extracted from Industrial Hemp, CBD is a cannabinoid that falls under the control of the federal Cannabis Act. For existing cosmetics manufacturers, you may apply for a cannabis processing license through Health Canada to accommodate for production of these products at your current facility, or a separate site. An alternative plan for getting your infused product to market is to form an agreement with a “white-label” cannabis processor, where you supply the formulation, and they infuse the product at their licensed site with cannabis.

There are many strategies for getting a topical cannabis product to market, but it’s important to know that you will not be able to make claims on any of these products. Despite the category “cosmetics,” any beneficial claims will be prohibited. Even stating that your product “softens skin” will not be permitted. This is all due to the Cannabis Act’s purpose of protecting youth and avoiding the “normalization” of cannabis use to protect public health. At this time, all cannabis products can only be sold at licensed retail establishments licensed by the relevant provincial authority.

dicentra Cannabis Consulting’s team of scientists and regulatory consultants will guide you through this process. Tell us what your goals are, and we’ll suggest the best options for getting your product on the Canadian recreational cannabis market.

If you are interested in manufacturing new classes of cannabis in October 2019, speak with a professional consultant today.