N.J. Admin. Code § 17:30-16.2

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 8, April 15, 2024

Section 17:30-16.2 - Cannabis item packaging requirements

(a) A cannabis cultivator or cannabis manufacturer, as applicable, shall package unusable cannabis for the purposes of manufacturing or cannabis items in packaging compliant with the requirements of this subchapter in a secure area connected to the cultivation or manufacturing area in accordance with this section before transfer to another cannabis business.

1. The unusable or usable cannabis and cannabis products shall be handled on food grade stainless steel tables.

2. Proper sanitation shall be maintained.

3. Proper rodent and bird exclusion practices shall be employed at all times.

(b) Each package of unusable or usable cannabis and cannabis product shall be sealed in a closed container, so that the package cannot be opened, and the contents consumed, without the seal being broken.

1. A container for the packaging of cannabis products, as used in this subsection, shall meet United States Pharmacopeia standards (see Containers under Preservation, Packaging, Storage, and Labeling in the General Notices and Requirements, Containers 661, and Containers--Permeation 671).

2. A container for the packaging of cannabis products, as used in this subsection, shall depend on the physical and chemical properties of the cannabis product; container-cannabis interaction is to be considered with substances such as phenolic compounds and sorptive materials (for example, polypeptides and proteins).

(c) Each package of usable cannabis and cannabis product shall bear a label that complies with N.J.A.C. 17:30-16.3 and shall be affixed with the universal symbol established by the Commission pursuant to N.J.A.C. 17:30-16.6.

(d) Where a cannabis cultivator packages unusable or usable cannabis for the purposes of manufacturing to be sold to another cannabis cultivator or a cannabis manufacturer, such packages may contain any amount of cannabis. Where a cannabis cultivator packages usable cannabis for sale to a cannabis retailer, such packages may contain any increment up to and including one ounce or 28.35 grams.

(e) A cannabis manufacturer shall only package authorized forms of cannabis products, and such packages may contain such amounts in accordance with N.J.A.C. 17:30-11.5.

(f) All packaging for cannabis items shall:

1. Be fully enclosed, opaque, of a single color, and light resistant.

i. Packaging may contain logos or symbols of a different color or colors;

2. Be child-resistant in accordance with the Poison Prevention Packaging Act of 1970, 16 CFR Part 1700 ;

3. Protect the product from contamination; and

4. Be able to be resealed in a child-resistant manner, unless the package contains a single serving cannabis item.

i. For ingestible products in liquid form with multiple serving units, the container must have a resealing cap or closure.

(g) Once a package is sealed, a cannabis business shall not open the package, except for quality control purposes. Once the seal is broken on a cannabis item ready for sale to the consumer, the cannabis item is deemed unusable.

(h) Cannabis businesses shall make a good faith effort to utilize packaging that is biodegradable.

(i) Subsections (f) and (g) above shall not apply to unusable or usable cannabis packaged and transported to a cannabis manufacturer for the purposes of manufacturing cannabis products. Such unusable or usable cannabis may be packaged in bulk in a resealable container designed to protect the product from contamination.

N.J. Admin. Code § 17:30-16.2

Adopted by 53 N.J.R. 1583(a), effective 8/19/2021

Recodified to 17:30-19.2 by 55 N.J.R. 402(a), effective 3/6/2023