Israel exports its first medical cannabis flowers

Israeli company Univo has carried out the first legal export of medical cannabis flowers Israeli, although these are still non-commercial exports. About half a kilogram of cannabis of the «Titan» variety was sent to the Dutch Eurofins laboratories for testing and certification to cGMP standards.

This standard, which is lower than the optimal EU-GMP standard, is accepted by certain countries for their medical cannabis. With this approval, Univo hopes to export cannabis flowers to these countries as soon as the Israeli Ministry of Health approves it.

«The flowers that the company has exported will undergo quality tests which, once compliant, will allow medical cannabis to be exported to European countries that do not require EU-GMP regulations.» a explained Univo. «At the same time, the company is seeking EU-GMP certification for its plant through a certified certification company, which will enable it to market its products in Europe in territories where this standard is required.»

The Israeli Ministry of Health approved the export after importing several hundred kilograms of the variety in recent weeks from Portugal (around 700 kg) and Canada (250 kg).

Commercial exports should begin within the next few months. The Ministry of Health is delaying export permits for the time being, to ensure that the domestic market is supplied with moderately-priced cannabis. The decree authorizing exports is nevertheless ready and is just waiting for the go-ahead from the Ministry.

In early March, Univo signed a partnership contract with Canopy Growth to import, export, produce and sell cannabis in Israel. Univo has already imported Canadian cannabis into Israel and has a 15,000m² cultivation site in southern Israel. The company has welcomed former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to its board.

Univo's main competitor is Canndoc, which has a partnership contract with Tilray and is home to Ehud Barak, also a former minister of the country.