Dr. Walker raises concerns about imported cannabis mislabelling and quality, urging the Minister for Health to address these issues at a national level. The Minister redirects responsibility to Commonwealth agencies.

AnsweredQoN 306Legislative Council
Asked
17 April 2024
Portfolio
Health

QuestionView source ↗

CANNABIS —
IMPORTATION AND CULTIVATION
306. Hon Dr BRIAN WALKER to the parliamentary secretary
representing the Minister for Health:
I
refer the minister to recent reports by the ABC suggesting that a loophole is
allowing importers to bring foreign- grown cannabis into Australia, to
the detriment of domestic growers, with the final product often being labelled
as ''made in Australia'' when it is only packaged here.
(1) Is the minister aware of this
loophole?
(2) Is the
minister further aware of claims that up to 30 per cent of imports from Canada,
the largest supplier of cannabis to Australia, do not match the strength of the
active ingredients listed on the label?
(3) Will the
minister raise this issue at the next Australian Health Ministers'
Meeting in the hope that an Australia-wide
approach can be implemented to protect both patients and local growers; and, if
not, why not?

AnswerView source ↗

I
thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. The following answer
has been provided by the minister.
(1)–(3) The
importation, cultivation, manufacture and labelling of medicinal cannabis
products is regulated by the commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care
through the Office of Drug Control and the Therapeutic Goods Administration.

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