On February 18, the Ministries of Justice, Health and Agriculture issued, jointly, Resolution 227 that regulates Decree 811 of 2021 regarding licenses and authorisations for the informed use of non-psychoactive cannabis and its derivatives in Colombia. 

This regulation also brings opportunities for food and beverages as well as for food supplements. For these categories, the raw material can be plant components, grains and non-psychoactive cannabis derivatives. In any case, raw materials must not exceed 1% of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). It is worth mentioning that in the case of food supplements, for some raw materials, a prior assessment by the national authority would be required. 

According to the resolution, final products must not exceed 0.2% of THC, as well as the regulation indicates that the Ministry of Health shall set out the maximum level of cannabidiol (CBD) allowed in both categories. For foods a certificate demonstrating the THC level in the product must be submitted, while for food supplements, the CBD level must be also demonstrated.

The regulation involves other aspects such as good manufacturing practices, food additives, packaging, labelling and advertising, surveillance and control, among others. 

This resolution is already effective.  

This way, Colombia joins Ecuador and Uruguay, which were the only two countries in the Latin American region that so far authorised the use of cannabis in food and food supplements.

This regulation has been welcomed by companies, being announced the registration application of 23 cannabinoid-infused food and beverage products to National Drug and Food Surveillance Institute (INVIMA in Spanish) including juices, carbonated soft drinks, gummies and healthy snacks, which hope to have the approval of the sanitary authority.

If you are interested in exploring the opportunities and challenges for hemp products in the field of food and food supplements in Latin America, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Published: 24 February, 2022

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