Portugal cuts medical cannabis export certificate processing to 12 days

Regulator accelerates approval timeline as prior coverage documented mounting export delays and competitive pressure from Spain.

FILE — statehouse · B.D. Gilfry / CC BY-SA 2.0

Portugal's medicinal cannabis regulator has reduced export certificate processing from an unspecified longer period to 12 days, according to Hanf Magazin. The move appears aimed at addressing bottlenecks that prior reporting identified as a drag on local producers' competitiveness and export volumes.

The acceleration comes amid documented regulatory friction. A September Business of Cannabis report noted the regulator was defending a cannabis crackdown as export permit delays mounted. Separately, allegations surfaced in June that a trafficking ring exploited Infarmed regulatory loopholes, and July reporting highlighted delays on license renewals costing Portuguese producers months of operations. Spain has concurrently emerged as a stronger GMP cannabis operator and export competitor.

While faster processing could ease near-term bottlenecks—Portugal exported over 66 tonnes of medicinal cannabis as of August—watch whether 12-day turnarounds hold under volume pressure and whether the streamlined timeline extends to initial license approvals or only renewals.