133 Molesworth Street
PO Box 5013
Wellington 6140
New Zealand
T+64 4 496 2000
20 May 2024
M Woodward
By email:
[FYI request #26497 email]
Ref:
H2024039976
Tēnā koe M Woodward
Response to your request for official information
Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) on 21 April 2024 for
information regarding the Medicinal Cannabis Scheme. Please find a response to each part of
your request below.
I am looking for all information regarding medicinal cannabis products recalls and issues
since the inception of the Medicinal Cannabis Scheme (April 1 2020): Please provide: Total amount of medical cannabis products recalled including product details, why they
were recalled and how many patients were affected.
Since 1 April 2020, there have been three medicinal cannabis recall actions. A summary of all
recall actions in New Zealand, including medicinal cannabis recalls, can be found via a publicly
accessible and searchable database, known as the Medsafe Online Recalls Database (MORD).
This can be found here:
www.medsafe.govt.nz/hot/recalls/RecallSearch.asp#results.
Details about each of the three recalls are provided below:
• On May 2021, one batch of Tilray FS THC25 was recalled due to the printed shelf life
not meeting the verified specifications for the product:
www.medsafe.govt.nz/hot/recalls/RecallDetail.asp?ID=27739.
• On January 2024, one batch of Medleaf High THC GG#4 was recalled to consumer level
due to complaints relating to colour and odour. There was no quality issue identified with
this batch
: www.medsafe.govt.nz/hot/recalls/RecallDetail.asp?ID=32314.
• On April 2024, one batch of Kikuya Arroyo was recalled due to presence of mould. This
recall is still in progress
: www.medsafe.govt.nz/hot/recalls/RecallDetail.asp?ID=32864.
Please note that there was one medicinal cannabis recall in January 2020, prior to the
implementation of the Medicinal Cannabis Scheme on 1 April 2020. Details of the recall,
including product name, batch number and reasons for recalling the product can be found here:
www.medsafe.govt.nz/hot/recalls/RecallDetail.asp?ID=25595.
Any information about how effective the recall was, including how many patients returned
their product
We do hold part of the information for this request, however, your request is refused under
section 9 (2)(b)(ii) of the Act, as releasing this information would likely unreasonably prejudice
the commercial position of the person who is the subject of the information.
Any information on patients having side effects or needing treatment from recalled
products, including whether they consumed the product before or after the recall
In accordance with section 18(d) of the Act, information regarding the number of adverse events
that relate to medicines and vaccines is publicly available here:
www.medsafe.govt.nz/Projects/B1/ADRDisclaimer.asp.
If you wish to discuss any aspect of your request with us, including this decision, please feel
free to contact the OIA Services Team on
[email address]. Under section 28(3) of the Act, you have the right to ask the Ombudsman to review any
decisions made under this request. The Ombudsman may be contacted by email at:
[email address] or by calling 0800 802 602.
Please note that this response, with your personal details removed, may be published on the
Ministry website at:
www.health.govt.nz/about-ministry/information-releases/responses-official-
information-act-requests. Nāku noa, nā
Chris James
Licensing Authority
Medicinal Cannabis Agency
Page 2 of 2
