According to data provided to ECO by the National Authority for Medicines and Health Products (Infarmed), sales abroad totalled 32,558 kilos, covering cultivation, manufacturing and wholesale trade activities.

Germany, Spain, Poland, the United Kingdom and Australia were the top five destinations for medical cannabis exports last year. With this year-on-year growth of 172%, which made the volume exceed 65 tons in 2019, the country consolidated its status as the largest European exporter and second in the world, a ranking in which it appears behind only Canada.

The public institute led by Rui Santos Ivo, who last month was elected chairman of the board of directors of the European Medicines Agency (EMA), told ECO that there are currently 41 companies authorized to carry out cultivation activities, 24 at the manufacturing level and 15 operating in wholesale trade.

Between cultivation (92), manufacturing (38) and wholesale trade (19), another 150 have already obtained a “decision of documentary suitability” to operate in Portugal, and Infarmed is waiting for them to request an inspection of the facilities. Which highlights an official source from this state body, “will only occur when they meet the applicable good practice requirements”.