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    At least 3 kg of food grown in Mozambique’s fields is lost due to inefficient processing, transportation, and storage-World Bank

    A change to hotter conditions is a looming challenge in the agricultural sector in the Southern African region

    AfDB commits $10 billion to fight food insecurity

    AfDB commits $10 billion to fight food insecurity

    Natafim SA expands drip-line manufacturing plant

    Natafim SA expands drip-line manufacturing plant

    Africa’s Vast Arable Land Underutilised for Cash and Food Crops

    Africa’s Vast Arable Land Underutilised for Cash and Food Crops

    Farming in South Africa; Six Things That Need Urgent Attention in 2023

    Farming in South Africa; Six Things That Need Urgent Attention in 2023

    Macfrut 2023,Turkey to participate in International Blueberry Days

    Macfrut 2023,Turkey to participate in International Blueberry Days

  • Africa
    AfDB commits $10 billion to fight food insecurity

    AfDB commits $10 billion to fight food insecurity

    Africa’s Vast Arable Land Underutilised for Cash and Food Crops

    Africa’s Vast Arable Land Underutilised for Cash and Food Crops

    Africa’s new agriculture pledge on the cards

    Africa’s new agriculture pledge on the cards

    Agricultural machinery: High demand on the world market

    Agricultural machinery: High demand on the world market

    EIMA International 2022, a Global Event Returns

    EIMA International 2022, a Global Event Returns

    2026 declared World Year of Pastoralism

    2026 declared World Year of Pastoralism

  • Company
    Norway pledges to build resilience of small aquaculture farmers in East and Southern Africa

    Norway pledges to build resilience of small aquaculture farmers in East and Southern Africa

    Tropical Cyclone Ana: WFP ready to provide food and logistics support for rescue and relief operations

    Tropical Cyclone Ana: WFP ready to provide food and logistics support for rescue and relief operations

    Mozambique authorities seek to combat biodiversity devastation by clamping on illicit fishing

    Mozambique authorities seek to combat biodiversity devastation by clamping on illicit fishing

    World Bank, UN launch programme to help Mozambique improve forestry management

    World Bank, UN launch programme to help Mozambique improve forestry management

    Basis of the Nampula economy calls for a re-orientation of efforts towards the most profitable cash crops, Says Nyusi

    Basis of the Nampula economy calls for a re-orientation of efforts towards the most profitable cash crops, Says Nyusi

    Sporadic rains worry Zambezi farmers

    UN announces US$1.2mln animal health programme for Mozambique

  • International
    Macfrut 2023,Turkey to participate in International Blueberry Days

    Macfrut 2023,Turkey to participate in International Blueberry Days

    First Special Agriculture Industrial Zone launched in Mozambique

    EIMA 2022: Unlocking the growth potential of Africa’s Agribusiness

    Agricultural machinery: High demand on the world market

    Agricultural machinery: High demand on the world market

    Italian industry Growing Turnover despite the Economic Situation

    Italian industry Growing Turnover despite the Economic Situation

    EIMA International 2022, a Global Event Returns

    EIMA International 2022, a Global Event Returns

    African women playing a critical role in local economic development

    Lusophone countries benefit from Africa Investment Forum

  • Markets
    It is through collective efforts and pursuit of mutual agreements and regional approaches and strategies that SADC can fully address national and intercountry investments on agriculture

    It is through collective efforts and pursuit of mutual agreements and regional approaches and strategies that SADC can fully address national and intercountry investments on agriculture

    Africa’s local ownership drive must balance foreign investment

    President Nyusi reminds investors of the agricultural opportunities available in Mocuba District

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    Russia-Ukraine war poses upsides risks on African agriculture: Economist

    Mozambique Fisheries on high vigilance following outbreak of fish disease in Malawi

    Mozambique Fisheries on high vigilance following outbreak of fish disease in Malawi

    Govt’s initiative to boost cotton and cashew income

    Govt’s initiative to boost cotton and cashew income

    Maize planter calibration to improve your profitability

    Maize planter calibration to improve your profitability

  • Equipment
    IMPROVING WATER QUALITY TO ENSURE SUCCESS OF BROILER BUSINESS

    IMPROVING WATER QUALITY TO ENSURE SUCCESS OF BROILER BUSINESS

    AWARD targets to improve African smallholders’ livelihoods

    AWARD targets to improve African smallholders’ livelihoods

    Agricultural machinery: High demand on the world market

    Agricultural machinery: High demand on the world market

    African women playing a critical role in local economic development

    Lusophone countries benefit from Africa Investment Forum

    President Nyusi excited about the prospects the new vegetable oil factory brings

    President Nyusi excited about the prospects the new vegetable oil factory brings

    Russian company to make a humanitarian fertilisers shipment to Africa

    Russian company to make a humanitarian fertilisers shipment to Africa

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  • News
    • All
    • Crops
    • Diary
    • Fresh Produce
    • Game & Wildlife
    • Livestock
    At least 3 kg of food grown in Mozambique’s fields is lost due to inefficient processing, transportation, and storage-World Bank

    A change to hotter conditions is a looming challenge in the agricultural sector in the Southern African region

    AfDB commits $10 billion to fight food insecurity

    AfDB commits $10 billion to fight food insecurity

    Natafim SA expands drip-line manufacturing plant

    Natafim SA expands drip-line manufacturing plant

    Africa’s Vast Arable Land Underutilised for Cash and Food Crops

    Africa’s Vast Arable Land Underutilised for Cash and Food Crops

    Farming in South Africa; Six Things That Need Urgent Attention in 2023

    Farming in South Africa; Six Things That Need Urgent Attention in 2023

    Macfrut 2023,Turkey to participate in International Blueberry Days

    Macfrut 2023,Turkey to participate in International Blueberry Days

  • Africa
    AfDB commits $10 billion to fight food insecurity

    AfDB commits $10 billion to fight food insecurity

    Africa’s Vast Arable Land Underutilised for Cash and Food Crops

    Africa’s Vast Arable Land Underutilised for Cash and Food Crops

    Africa’s new agriculture pledge on the cards

    Africa’s new agriculture pledge on the cards

    Agricultural machinery: High demand on the world market

    Agricultural machinery: High demand on the world market

    EIMA International 2022, a Global Event Returns

    EIMA International 2022, a Global Event Returns

    2026 declared World Year of Pastoralism

    2026 declared World Year of Pastoralism

  • Company
    Norway pledges to build resilience of small aquaculture farmers in East and Southern Africa

    Norway pledges to build resilience of small aquaculture farmers in East and Southern Africa

    Tropical Cyclone Ana: WFP ready to provide food and logistics support for rescue and relief operations

    Tropical Cyclone Ana: WFP ready to provide food and logistics support for rescue and relief operations

    Mozambique authorities seek to combat biodiversity devastation by clamping on illicit fishing

    Mozambique authorities seek to combat biodiversity devastation by clamping on illicit fishing

    World Bank, UN launch programme to help Mozambique improve forestry management

    World Bank, UN launch programme to help Mozambique improve forestry management

    Basis of the Nampula economy calls for a re-orientation of efforts towards the most profitable cash crops, Says Nyusi

    Basis of the Nampula economy calls for a re-orientation of efforts towards the most profitable cash crops, Says Nyusi

    Sporadic rains worry Zambezi farmers

    UN announces US$1.2mln animal health programme for Mozambique

  • International
    Macfrut 2023,Turkey to participate in International Blueberry Days

    Macfrut 2023,Turkey to participate in International Blueberry Days

    First Special Agriculture Industrial Zone launched in Mozambique

    EIMA 2022: Unlocking the growth potential of Africa’s Agribusiness

    Agricultural machinery: High demand on the world market

    Agricultural machinery: High demand on the world market

    Italian industry Growing Turnover despite the Economic Situation

    Italian industry Growing Turnover despite the Economic Situation

    EIMA International 2022, a Global Event Returns

    EIMA International 2022, a Global Event Returns

    African women playing a critical role in local economic development

    Lusophone countries benefit from Africa Investment Forum

  • Markets
    It is through collective efforts and pursuit of mutual agreements and regional approaches and strategies that SADC can fully address national and intercountry investments on agriculture

    It is through collective efforts and pursuit of mutual agreements and regional approaches and strategies that SADC can fully address national and intercountry investments on agriculture

    Africa’s local ownership drive must balance foreign investment

    President Nyusi reminds investors of the agricultural opportunities available in Mocuba District

    Russia-Ukraine war poses upsides risks on African agriculture: Economist

    Russia-Ukraine war poses upsides risks on African agriculture: Economist

    Mozambique Fisheries on high vigilance following outbreak of fish disease in Malawi

    Mozambique Fisheries on high vigilance following outbreak of fish disease in Malawi

    Govt’s initiative to boost cotton and cashew income

    Govt’s initiative to boost cotton and cashew income

    Maize planter calibration to improve your profitability

    Maize planter calibration to improve your profitability

  • Equipment
    IMPROVING WATER QUALITY TO ENSURE SUCCESS OF BROILER BUSINESS

    IMPROVING WATER QUALITY TO ENSURE SUCCESS OF BROILER BUSINESS

    AWARD targets to improve African smallholders’ livelihoods

    AWARD targets to improve African smallholders’ livelihoods

    Agricultural machinery: High demand on the world market

    Agricultural machinery: High demand on the world market

    African women playing a critical role in local economic development

    Lusophone countries benefit from Africa Investment Forum

    President Nyusi excited about the prospects the new vegetable oil factory brings

    President Nyusi excited about the prospects the new vegetable oil factory brings

    Russian company to make a humanitarian fertilisers shipment to Africa

    Russian company to make a humanitarian fertilisers shipment to Africa

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Navigating through the cloud of cannabis legislation in South Africa

Ian by Ian
April 22, 2020
in Business, Crops, Editor picks, News
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Navigating through the cloud of cannabis legislation in South Africa
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Currently, South Africa is one of only three African countries that permit the cultivation of medical cannabis. Zimbabwe and Lesotho also permit the plant’s cultivation and Uganda and Swaziland are in the process of introducing new legislation to regulate commercial production. In South Africa, a licence for cannabis production can be obtained, but the processes for its provision are stringent. Further recent legal developments in the country point to a growing attempt to harness the plant’s potential and ensure adequate control of the cultivation and sale of cannabis products.

The Medicines and Related Substances Act of 1965 (Medicines Act) historically mandated the-then Medicines Control Council, now referred to as the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA), to regulate the availability of quality medicines, which are safe and efficacious for their intended use. Amongst other things, this mandate requires SAHPRA to apply standards for the manufacturing, distribution, selling and marketing of medicines, medical devices and scheduled substances, which includes cannabis.

In terms of the Medicines Act, medical practitioners are permitted to apply to SAHPRA for permission to access and prescribe unregistered medicines when intended to treat their patients, which may include cannabis. Accordingly, SAHPRA acknowledges and permits that cannabis products, intended for medicinal purposes, may thus be made available in exceptional circumstances, to specific patients under medical supervision.

Cultivation licence

Potential cannabis growers and producers should note that, under the Medicines Act and in line with the United Nations Single Convention, the cultivation, production, manufacturing and use of medicinal cannabis products may only occur through a licence issued by SAHPRA and a permit issued by the Department of Health. Applicants can apply to SAHPRA for a licence to cultivate/grow and produce cannabis and cannabis resin, extract and test cannabis, cannabis resin and/or cannabinoids, and to manufacture medicines containing cannabinoids.

In providing the licence, SAHPRA will inspect the plans for the facility and the quality-control procedure, amongst other things. In addition to this, applicants would also be required to apply to the Director-General of Health for a permit to acquire, possess, manufacture, use or supply cannabis. The stringent quality control measures are necessary to ensure that the product is safe for medical use. Although there is no limit on the amount of cannabis that can be grown, as part of the application process, SAHPRA will allocate a permitted quantity.

It should be noted, however, that SAHPRA is unlikely to issue any new licences during South Africa’s lockdown period, as cultivating cannabis is not listed by the government as an essential service that is allowed to remain operational during this period.

Recent legal developments include the reassigning of Cannabidiol (CBD), which is a component of the cannabis plant, from Schedule 7 of the Medicines Act (being a highly regulated substance) to Schedule 4 (being substances that can be sold with a prescription). In addition, some CBD products and products with THC levels of less than 0.001% and less than 0.0075% of CBD were excluded from the list altogether (which means they can be purchased without a prescription). For licenced cannabis producers in South Africa, this has now opened a range of potential new markets for their product. That being said, CBD products which do not fall into the exemption (namely CBD products and products with THC levels of more than 0.001% and more than 0.0075% of CBD), continue to require a prescription by a medical practitioner in order to be sold.

Personal use

The laws around personal use of cannabis have also changed and tend to point to the increasing acceptance to the use of the plant under certain circumstances. In 2018, the Constitutional Court legalised the private use of cannabis, upholding the Western Cape High Court’s 2017 ruling, which found that the criminalisation of the private use of cannabis was unconstitutional. The Constitutional Court found that banning private cannabis use was an infringement of a person’s right to privacy and “unconstitutional and invalid”. The Court also ordered parliament to draft new laws within 24 months (the deadline being September 2020) to reflect the order. Reportedly, a draft of the Regulation of Cannabis Bill has been drawn up by the South African Ministry of Justice and circulated to various government departments for comment, although this Bill has not yet been published in the public domain.

Tito Mboweni, South Africa’s Minister of Finance, indicated earlier this year that he was in the process of considering the legalisation of the cannabis industry. President Cyril Ramaphosa also voiced his support for the economic opportunities afforded by the cannabis industry during his State of the Nation address in February 2020. A recent report by Prohibition Partners estimated that South Africa’s cannabis industry could be worth over $23-billion by 2023. The legalisation of the cannabis industry in South Africa could potentially also lead to an enormous increase in revenue collection by the South African Revenue Service.

International trade and control

In addition to these current regulations, South Africa is a signatory to the three United Nations (UN) conventions that regulate the international trade in narcotic substances and the country is in regular contact with the International Narcotics Control Board. The three UN Conventions are the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961 (as amended by the 1972 Protocol); the Convention on Psychotropic Substances, 1971; and the Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, 1988. The purpose of these conventions is to establish international control measures for psychoactive substances so that they can be made be available for medical and scientific purposes, while preventing their illegal use.

For investors willing to comply with existing and developing legislation, medical cannabis is optimistically expected to generate billions of dollars for the economy in coming years, an exciting market to monitor, with a great deal of potential. This is welcome news in current, uncertain times and hopefully the industry will see high growth in the coming decades.

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