New Safety, Quality Certification Body For Cannabis Industry
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 the world’s first cannabis certification program 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.
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 & 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 expansive 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.
For more information about CSQ or to schedule an interview, please reach out to Kim Ring at 314.495.4589 or kim@ringrelations.com.