The Council of Ministers of Albania has approved a decision to define the standards for the areas and land parcels where the cultivation of cannabis for medical and industrial purposes will be allowed.
The decision aims to regulate the cultivation criteria in detail, ensuring compliance with international best practices and national legislation.
Standards for medical cannabis cultivation:
- The parcels must not be located within:
- Protected or tourist areas.
- Forests, pastures, and meadows.
- Military zones.
- Urban areas as defined by territorial planning documents.
- A minimum distance of 3 km from bee parks and military zones must be maintained.
- Heavy metal concentrations in the soil must be within permitted limits.
- Cultivation must follow international standards for good agricultural and collection practices (GACP).
For industrial purposes, the standards are similar, including restrictions on cultivation in protected areas, tourist zones, and forests, as well as the 3 km minimum distance from bee parks and military zones.
Full Decision:
DECISION ON THE APPROVAL OF STANDARDS FOR AREAS AND LAND PARCELS WHERE CANNABIS CULTIVATION WILL BE ALLOWED FOR MEDICAL AND INDUSTRIAL PURPOSES
Based on Articles 100 of the Constitution, paragraph “c”, point 2 of Article 9 of Law No. 61/2023, “On the control of cannabis cultivation and processing, and production of its by-products for medical and industrial purposes,” upon the proposal of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Council of Ministers:
DECIDES:
- In this decision, the following terms have the following meanings:
- “Standards”: The entirety of requirements and criteria for areas and land parcels for cannabis cultivation for medical and industrial purposes.
- “Land Parcel”: A limited area of land, acquired through a property acquisition act, to be used for cannabis cultivation for medical or industrial purposes, in accordance with Law No. 61/2023.
- “Protected Environment”: A cultivation and covered environment that provides favorable conditions for plant growth, protecting them from extreme weather conditions, such as temperature changes, wind, or rain. This environment allows sunlight penetration and typically includes structures like greenhouses or plastic tunnels.
- “Closed Environment”: A fully enclosed and isolated cultivation environment that offers favorable conditions for plant growth without natural sunlight penetration. This environment uses artificial lighting and cultivation systems to regulate light, humidity, temperature, ventilation, and other external factors.
- “Zone”: The entirety of land parcels where cannabis is cultivated for medical or industrial purposes.
- “Cultivation Substrate”: A material or mixture of materials, natural or produced, that provides physical support and nutrient supply for plant growth. It may include natural soil, peat, perlite, vermiculite, coconut fibers, or other substrates.
- Standards for medical cannabis cultivation areas:
- Land parcels cannot be within:
i. Protected zones or tourism priority areas as designated by the Council of Ministers.
ii. Forests, pastures, and meadows.
iii. Military zones.
iv. Areas designated as urban systems by territorial planning documents. - Land parcels must be located at least 3 km by air from bee parks, approved according to beekeeping legislation.
- Land parcels must be located at least 3 km by air from military zones and properties managed by the Ministry of Defense.
- The concentration of heavy metals in the soil or cultivation substrates must not exceed maximum values set in Annex 1, which is part of this decision.
- The land must meet standards defined in the good agricultural and collection practices guidelines of the European Medicines Agency and the World Health Organization.
- Standards for industrial cannabis cultivation areas:
- The standards for land parcels for industrial purposes are similar, including the same restrictions regarding protected zones, tourist areas, forests, and military zones, as well as the 3 km minimum distance from bee parks and military zones.
- In cases where construction activities are required on the land parcel for production purposes, construction must follow the provisions of territorial planning and development legislation.
- The land parcel used for medical or industrial cannabis cultivation must be equipped with the ownership acquisition act, in accordance with the Civil Code and Law No. 111/2018 “On the cadastre.”
- The standards mentioned in points 2(a)(iv) and 3(a)(iv) do not apply when cultivation occurs in closed environments.
- The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, the National Cannabis Control Agency, and licensed entities are responsible for implementing this decision.
This decision enters into force upon publication in the “Official Gazette.”
PRIME MINISTER
EDI RAMA
In the absence and by order
DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER
BELINDA BALLUKU
