As the U.S. member body to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) seeks comments by March 22 on a draft proposal for a new ISO technical committee on safety, security, and quality systems of cannabis facilities and operations.
Submitted by the Standards Council of Canada (SCC), the ISO member for Canada, the proposal includes the following scope statement:
Standardization in the field of safety, security, and quality systems of cannabis facilities and operations in jurisdictions where such facilities and operations are legal, covering the supply chain from cultivation, processing, production, packaging, distribution, transportation, and retail stores for cannabis and cannabis products.
The global cannabis market was estimated to be valued at $32.73 billion in 2023, and is projected to reach $187.24 billion by 2030. According to the proposal, “in jurisdictions where cannabis production and sale is legal, the cannabis industry presents a unique combination of health, safety, and security issues that are not adequately addressed separately in existing technical committees.” Proposed standardization activities would support improved security at cannabis growing/production facilities and cannabis retail spaces, and safer work environments for staff at all levels of the cannabis supply chain.
Standardization includes, but is not limited to: terminology; methods of tests; cannabis equipment and their operation; waste disposal; air quality; good production practices; good manufacturing practices; security of facilities and operations; and related quality management systems.
Standardization excluded:
Read the proposal and submit comments to Steven Cornish, ANSI senior director of international policy and strategy, at [email protected] by close of business on Friday, March 22. All input ANSI receives will be used to develop the ANSI representative input to the ISO Technical Management Board.
