ST. LOUIS, Mo. — QIMA/WQS, a provider of independent third-party certification, inspection and training services, has become a licensed certification body for the Cannabis Safety & Quality (CSQ) Certification Program. The CSQ Certification Program and applicable standards aim to help cannabis companies minimize risk, protect their brand and meet regulatory requirements from seed to sale.
The CSQ Certification Program is breaking new ground as one of the world's first cannabis certification programs that meets the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) requirements, set to be benchmarked in 2022. The first CSQ Certifications will be awarded starting Jan. 4, 2021.
Headquartered in North Carolina, QIMA/WQS offers solutions to the food supply chain from farm to fork, and is a part of the QIMA Group, a supply chain compliance company that partners with brands, retailers and importers to optimize their global supply network. QIMA/WQS is approved by GFSI recognized schemes, government entities and major food retailers.
“We are thrilled to welcome QIMA/WQS into our family of licensed certification bodies to foster the CSQ mission of improving the overall safety and quality of cannabis and cannabis-infused products worldwide,” said Tyler Williams, chief technical officer and founder of CSQ. “Our goal is to encourage the cannabis industry to self-regulate and think beyond meeting basic CGMPs. QIMA/WQS has been expanding internationally and conducting audits for nearly three decades, so we knew they would make great allies as we explore this uncharted territory.”
As a certification body of CSQ, QIMA/WQS will carry out off-site document evaluations and on-site inspections to ensure each company is meeting proper cultivation, extraction or manufacturing safety standards.
"At QIMA/WQS, we see an enormous potential to support and provide quality certification to the entire cannabis supply chain. Joining CSQ and its innovative approach is an exciting step into the diversification of our services and growth," said Mario Berard, CEO of QIMA/WQS.
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