Medicinal cannabis flower successfully exported to Germany

PACKAGED UP: This is the packaging of Rua Bioscience's sample medicinal cannabis flower which was successfully exported to Germany. Picture supplied

Rua Bioscience has successfully exported to Germany a sample of medicinal cannabis flower grown in Ruatorea.

The sample of dried flower is similar to the product Rua aims to export in commercial quantities by the end of this year as part of its sales agreement with German distributor, Nimbus Health.

Although weighing just 70 grams, it has enabled the company to test its packaging and export processes.

Rua's chief research officer Dr Jessika Nowak says this is the first time cannabis flower has been exported in any quantity from New Zealand to Germany and it has provided valuable early learning opportunities for all involved.

“This sample export was specifically designed as a practice run. Despite the sample's size, we had to navigate the same complex web of export licensing arrangements, customs regulations, temperature-controlled logistics and shipping timelines that we will when we're in a position to export commercially,” Dr Nowak said.

Once received by Nimbus Health, data from the temperature logger in the package was assessed to determine that the packaging performed as expected to keep the plant material at the required temperatures throughout shipping.

The plant material was then sent on to a commercial laboratory in Germany for analytical testing.

“We were very pleased to receive this sample at our facility near Frankfurt and look forward to seeing commercial quantities for German patients when it is ready,” Nimbus Health CEO Linus Weber said.

Mr Weber said Nimbus had been expanding its range of medicinal cannabis to meet the growing demand from German patients for product.

The Rua Bioscience product is expected to be considered a premium option available across the German market.

“Importing medicinal cannabis products from New Zealand will give doctors a whole new level of therapeutic options in treating seriously ill patients,” Mr Weber said.

Rua Bioscience CEO Rob Mitchell said this was a small but important step for Rua in learning and understanding the export process, end to end.

“Rua has a clear export strategy, and our first focus is on the German market. This sample export of dried medicinal cannabis flower to Germany gives us growing confidence that we are on the right track to export our commercial flower to Germany by the end of this year,” Mr Mitchell said.