Legal cannabis producers urged to renew licences

Mr Richard Rukwata

Medicinal cannabis producers in Zimbabwe have been called upon to urgently renew their operating licences as permits issued in 2021 are coming to an end after their five-year validity period.

In a notice, the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) said it will not accept any application for renewal of expired licences.

The annual fee stands at US$20 000 while the annual returns fee is US$15 000.
“The Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe would like to draw the attention of all producers of cannabis for medicinal and scientific use with licences issued in 2021 that the five-year validity period is lapsing this year. This applies to licence numbers 001/2021 to 010/2021. In order to avoid inconveniences, all licences should be renewed before expiry,” read the notice from the Authority’s Director General, Mr Richard Rukwata.

He said according to Section 16 of the Dangerous Drugs (Production of Cannabis for medical and scientific use) Regulations Statutory Instrument 62 of 2018, every licenced producer shall submit to the Minister, at every anniversary of the licence and upon payment of the annual returns fee specified in the First Schedule, records of all transactions which are required to be kept in terms of the Act and the Minister may prescribe the manner in which records may be submitted.