Malta issues its first license for the production of medical cannabis products

The Maltese Medicines Authority has issued the very first Maltese license for the local production of medical cannabis products.

The license was issued to the Canadian company Aphria, which is also in talks to acquire another Canadian cannabis producer, Tilray.

The first products manufactured, packaged, and tested by the company will be dried flowers. The plants will be grown in Canada and imported to Malta.

The Ministry of Energy, Enterprise, and Sustainable Development stated that this was an important step for Malta in beginning to export high-quality medical cannabis products. The products could also be distributed within Malta. which often faces shortages.

The license was issued following a rigorous review process by the pharmaceutical regulatory authority and Malta Enterprise, the government said. The authority conducts inspections at both the local facility and the Canadian facility to certify that procedures are carried out in accordance with EU Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards.

The Parliamentary Secretary for Consumer Rights, Deo Debattista, has declared that the licensing process took about two years and that it will ensure a high-quality product.

Energy Minister Miriam Dalli said that the government is considering this development from two perspectives: economic growth and job creation, while ensuring that locally manufactured products meet the highest standards.

The Maltese Medicines Authority is currently granting licenses to other companies in the sector.