The first cannabis license has been released in South-Africa. Afriplex announced that one of their partners, House of Hemp, has received their Cannabis Cultivation License from the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA). "This is a historical milestone for South Africa to become an active and innovative player in the budding cannabis market, and marks a positive move forward by SAHPRA to encourage the development of the medical cannabis and cannabidiol (CBD) sector", they say.
With the current global market value for medicinal cannabis estimated at USD 8.28-billion – and expected to reach USD 27-billion by 2024 - the medical cannabis industry has formidable economic development potential for South Africa.
“Afriplex and our strategic partner, House of Hemp, are extremely honoured to be associated with the first Cannabis License from SAHPRA,” says Danie Nel, Afriplex CEO. “The teams have worked tirelessly over the last seven years to ensure we meet not only local standards but also the legislative requirements and quality standards of international markets as well. Being the first in South Africa to receive this accreditation enables us to actively pursue expansion into the cannabis market locally and internationally.”
House of Hemp’s glass cannabis greenhouse is situated in the Dube Trade Port’s AgriZone precinct and is Africa’s first integrated perishables supply chain, and the most technologically advanced future-farming platform that hosts the largest climate-controlled growing area under glass in Africa.
The agricultural precinct largely produces high-value vegetables and horticultural products for both domestic and export markets. In addition to glass greenhouses, Dube AgriZone has dedicated post-harvest sorting, packing, and distribution facilities drawing produce from the site and from producers outside the site, as well as an indigenous plant nursery and state-of-the-art plant tissue culture laboratory that provides young plants for the agribusiness sector both locally and internationally. "These facilities are perfectly located for easy delivery to Cape Town International Airport", they say.
“Samples from the final powders, tinctures, oils and APIs will be tested for stability, quality, reliability, and reproducibility in the same manner that Afriplex has prided itself in all our operations. We have invested in a specialised team of experienced professionals and researchers to establish our Cannabis Laboratory. This commitment has resulted in the SA Cannabis Research Institute (SACRI) nominating the Afriplex Cannabis Laboratory as the lab of choice in South Africa,” says Afriplex CEO Danie Nel.
