The global cannabis safety and quality auditing standard certification is now available to cultivators, manufacturers and extractors.
Cannabis Safety & Quality (CSQ) has awarded the first CSQ Certifications to Curaleaf, a leading U.S. provider of consumer products in cannabis, and Florida-based retailer, One Plant. The CSQ Certification Program and applicable standards aim to serve as protection for these brands by minimizing the risk and ensuring regulatory requirements are met from seed-to-sale. The standards were built in 2020 to meet ISO requirements and Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) requirements.
“We are thrilled to have Curaleaf and One Plant as the first of many industry-leading brands putting compliance and quality first with CSQ’s stamp of approval,” said Tyler Williams, founder and chief technical officer of CSQ. “Obtaining third-party certifications like ours helps lay the groundwork for a more self-regulated industry that continuously produces safe and reliable products for patients and consumers.”
CSQ’s licensed third-party auditors, technical directors, and consultants have been training since the beginning of December 2020 to make these pilot audit certifications possible. Both companies were reviewed under the “Manufacturing and Infusion of Cannabis into Food & Beverage Products” standard, which applies to the addition of cannabis flower or cannabis derivatives into shelf-stable food and beverage products. This standard is one of four total standards within CSQ that are breaking new ground as part of the world’s first cannabis certification program meeting the GFSI requirements, set to be benchmarked in 2022. Additional standards include:
● Growing and Cultivation of Cannabis Plants
● Manufacturing and Extraction of Cannabis
● Manufacturing of Cannabis Dietary Supplements
Based in Florida, One Plant specializes in responsibly farmed cannabis. One Plant currently operates a state-of-the-art Nexus greenhouse, a full lab, and seven retail locations with five new locations coming soon. One Plant also operates a robust, ecommerce driven, next-day Statewide delivery model. Cultivators and manufacturers like One Plant that get certified are less likely to have a recall, endure a regulatory warning, or a voluntary withdrawal.
Curaleaf is a vertically integrated, high-growth cannabis operator known for quality, expertise, and reliability. Curaleaf and its brands, including Curaleaf and Select, provide industry-leading service, product selection, and accessibility across the medical and adult-use markets. Curaleaf currently operates in 23 states with 95 dispensaries, 22 cultivation sites, and over 30 processing sites.
A benefit for leading retailers like Curaleaf would also include peace of mind when working with suppliers who receive third-party audits. Eventually, dispensaries will have the capability to hand-pick new suppliers using CSQ’s searchable database to determine whether or not the supplier is compliant.
