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Foreign patients and businesses
Import
A foreign business wishing to import cannabis or cannabis extracts must submit the following documents to the BMC:
- two original import licences
- an accompanying letter stating the quantity of cannabis or cannabis extracts required, and the purpose for which it will be used.
Once the documents have been received the BMC will draw up a contract in duplicate, and an invoice for delivering the cannabis. The BMC will then apply to the Healthcare Inspectorate (Inspectie voor de Gezondheidszorg) for an export licence. Once the signed contract has been returned, the cannabis or cannabis extracts can be delivered by the BMC.
Costs include the application fee for the export licence and contract and transport costs.
Export
A foreign business wishing to export cannabis or cannabis extracts to the Netherlands must submit the following information to the BMC:
- the quantity of cannabis or cannabis extracts it wishes to export, and the pharmaceutical form of the cannabis
- the delivery address in the Netherlands
The BMC will apply to the Healthcare Inspectorate (Inspectie voor de Gezondheidszorg) for an import licence, and will forward it to the foreign export business as soon as it is issued. Once it has the import licence, the foreign business can apply to the appropriate government agency in its own country for an export licence. Once the export licence has been issued, the cannabis or cannabis extracts can be exported via the BMC.
Costs include the application fee for the import licence and contract and transport costs.Foreign patients
A European non-Dutch patient can, in principle, obtain medicinal cannabis in the Netherlands using a prescription from their own doctor. The procedure is as follows:
- The patient must have a valid prescription from any doctor within the European Union.
- A wholesaler or pharmacy in the country in question must then apply to the appropriate government agency for an import licence for medicinal cannabis. In the Netherlands this agency would be the Healthcare Inspectorate (Inspectie voor de Gezondheidszorg).
- The import licence needs to be forwarded, in duplicate, to the Office for Medicinal Cannabis Research (BMC).
- The BMC will then apply to the Healthcare Inspectorate (Inspectie voor de Gezondheidszorg) for an export licence. The export licence is generally issued within two to three weeks. In addition to an exemption, a contract specifying a number of details (e.g. the delivery of the medicinal cannabis) will also need to be drawn up.
- As soon as the contract has been signed and the export licence issued, the quantity of medicinal cannabis ordered can be dispatched.
- The wholesaler or pharmacy then dispenses the medicinal cannabis to the patient.
Import and export licences are only valid for a limited period. Once this period has expired the procedure must be repeated in order to obtain a new licence.
Costs include the application fee for the export licence and contract and transport costs.
Wednesday, 29 September 2010
Cannabis Bureau | Foreign patients and businesses
