Testing of paediatric medicinal cannabis products being supplied via SAS in Australia

On this page: Background | Testing | Appendix A: Details and results of samples analysed | Appendix B: Details of samples not received for testing and reason for not being provided

Background

Some medicinal cannabis products are used in the paediatric population in the management of a number of different indications. These products are permitted to be supplied in Australia under the Special Access Scheme (SAS), Authorised Prescriber scheme, and clinical trial schemes.

Products supplied under these schemes are required to comply with Therapeutic Goods Order No. 93 (Standard for Medicinal Cannabis) (TGO93). In particular, Section 12(2) specifies that the average content of each active ingredient in a representative sample of the product must be not less than 90.0 % and not more than 110.0 % of the stated content of that active ingredient for typical samples used in the paediatric population.

The survey described in this report was conducted to assess compliance with TGO93 for medicinal cannabis products used in the paediatric population being supplied via SAS in Australia.

A total of 9 medicinal cannabis products were requested by the TGA. The samples were targeted based on being in an oral dosage form and intended for use in the paediatric population.

Testing

Each of the samples received were tested for compliance against TGO93, specifically, the stated content of each active ingredient.

All samples were labelled as containing cannabidiol (CBD) and/or a corresponding acid. The samples were tested for content of total CBD and were reported as a percentage of the stated content as declared to the TGA as part of the SAS application. In all cases the stated content was the same as the declared content on the labels.

Details of the results obtained are included in Appendix A.

A sample for one of the nine requested products was not provided upon request. This was due to the product no longer being available. Details of this product are included in Appendix B.

An assessment of all samples was made for the presence of any other cannabinoids present in a concentration greater or equal to 2% w/w or w/v, which would classify the cannabinoid as an ingredient. None of the samples were found to contain other cannabinoids at a level that would constitute it as an active ingredient.

All 8 samples that were received for testing met the TGO93 requirements for content of the active ingredient. The results from an accredited third-party laboratory was accepted for one of the tested products. The labelled content of all of the samples were consistent with the stated content.

Appendix A: Details and results of samples analysed

Appendix B: Details of samples not received for testing and reason for not being provided