ST. LOUIS, Mo., Sept. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Cannabis Safety & Quality (CSQ) launched its first current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) audit and current Good Agricultural Practices (cGAP) audit specifically built by and for the cannabis industry, as opposed to competing programs available that are modeled after food or dietary supplement audits. Required by most production companies, GMP audits are third-party inspections that identify operational flaws and legal violations. GMPs outline the conditions and practices the industry should follow for processing safe products under sanitary conditions. CSQ's cGMP and cGAP audits are the first step within a systematic continuous improvement process that was structured to help cannabis and hemp operations develop effective cannabis safety and quality management systems.
The CSQ Certification Program and applicable standards serve as protection for cannabis and hemp brands by minimizing the risk and ensuring regulatory requirements are met from seed-to-sale. However, for a newer industry like cannabis, abiding by these stringent standards that were built in 2020 to meet ISO requirements and Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) benchmarking requirements remains a challenge for small to medium-sized operations to meet at this time. In order to improve market access opportunities for small suppliers operating locally, cGMP certification or cGAP certification is the first suggested step to becoming certified by CSQ. This tiered approach is meant to help smaller and less developed operators gradually level up towards full CSQ certification by encouraging them to start with a lower level standard like cGMP, later adding a cGMP+ certification which includes Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP) before finally getting CSQ certified.
"We noticed when conducting CSQ trial audits that it was too big of a jump for the cannabis industry, specifically smaller players, to go from zero to one hundred when striving to meet CSQ's level of standards. If a facility becomes cGMP or cGAP certified, not only will the facility be more confident in being up-to-date, more extensive certifications are brought within reach, like a CSQ certification," said Tyler Williams, Founder and Chief Technical Officer of CSQ.
For more information about CSQ or to schedule an interview, please reach out to Kim Ring at 314.495.4589 or [email protected].
Cannabis Safety & Quality
CSQ is a safety-driven company setting reliable cannabis industry standards to help companies minimize risk, protect their brand, and provide the best product for their consumers. CSQ is the first cannabis certification program that meets the GFSI Benchmarking Requirements, set to be benchmarked in 2022. The CSQ Standards were built in 2020 to meet ISO requirements, Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) requirements, and regulatory cannabis requirements from seed-to-sale. For more information about CSQ's standards visit our website at http://www.csqcertification.com or follow CSQ on Instagram (@csq_certification), Facebook (@CSQcertification), Twitter (@CSQ_Cert), or LinkedIn.
Media Contact
Kim Ring, Ring Relations, 314.495.4589, [email protected]
SOURCE Cannabis Safety & Quality (CSQ)
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