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Israel’s medical cannabis demands drive importations from Canada

Canadian Analytical Laboratories (CAL) has announced analytical testing methods for more than 150 pesticides that have been developed for the Israeli market, which are an addition to Health Canada’s mandatory testing of 96 pesticide residues, and the EP pesticide residues in cannabis dried flowers and cannabis-related products. The Israeli Medical Cannabis Agency (IMCA) will allow CAL to support Canadian growers seeking to export medicinal cannabis flower to Israel, provided that the exporters meet the list of pesticides residues testing requirements.

Currently, Israel is the larger importer of medical dried cannabis from Canada. The country has seen a recent spike in medical cannabis sales, which has left the market and domestic growers struggling to meet demands and therefore, increasing importation. IMCA’s acceptance of CAL’s pesticide methods is an important step toward meeting Israel’s strict importation quality assurance requirements.

“It has been almost three years since the ‘green rush’ began here in Canada,” said Dr. Christian Sood, CEO of CAL, “Since then, as the first G7 country to legalize cannabis for adult use, Canada has become regarded as a world leader for both recreational and medical cannabis. This in large part due to our comprehensive federal regulatory process for licensing production facilities and a set of standards for quality. Countries not only look to Canada as a case study to model their own cannabis laws and regulations, but equally so, as an attractive global business partner.”

AL provides analytical testing, rapid method development, and validation and research services to the regulated Canadian health and food products industries.