The Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM) has announced that Germany's estimated annual demand for medical cannabis in 2025 has already been reached, leading to a temporary suspension of new import licences.
According to information provided to Krautinvest.de, the country's registered import quota of 122 tonnes, reported to the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB), was exhausted by September. The BfArM confirmed that, while this does not constitute an outright import ban, new applications may face significant processing delays. As journalist Moritz Förster noted, imports for medical purposes cannot currently be licensed until the quota is adjusted.
The BfArM emphasised that demand estimates must be set "restrictively" under international law and that overstating annual requirements can result in reductions by the INCB. The quota system is based on annual estimates submitted by each country under the UN's narcotics control framework.
In this case, Germany may submit a revised demand estimate within the same calendar year to enable further imports. However, this process can extend approval timelines for import licence applications until the INCB confirms the updated figure.
Read more at Business of Cannabis
