ST LOUIS, Mo. – QIMA/WQS, a provider of independent third-party certification, inspection, and training services has become a licensed certification body for the Cannabis Safety & Quality (CSQ) Certification Program. The CSQ Certification Program and applicable standards aim to help cannabis companies minimize risk, protect their brand, and meet regulatory requirements from seed-to-sale.
The CSQ Certification Program is breaking new ground as the world’s first cannabis certification program that meets the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) requirements, set to be benchmarked in 2022. The first CSQ Certifications will be awarded starting January 4th, 2021.
Headquartered in North Carolina, QIMA/WQS offers solutions to the food supply chain from farm to fork, and is a part of the QIMA Group, a supply chain compliance company that partners with brands, retailers, and importers to optimize their global supply network. QIMA/WQS is approved by GFSI recognized schemes, government entities, and major food retailers.
“We are thrilled to welcome QIMA/WQS into our family of Licensed Certification Bodies to foster the CSQ mission of improving the overall safety and quality of cannabis and cannabis-infused products worldwide,” said Tyler Williams, Chief Technical Officer & Founder of CSQ. “Our goal is to encourage the cannabis industry to self-regulate and think beyond meeting basic cGMPs. QIMA/WQS has been expanding internationally and conducting audits for nearly three decades, so we knew they would make great allies as we explore this uncharted territory.”
As a Certification Body of CSQ, QIMA/WQS will carry out expansive off-site document evaluations and on-site inspections to ensure each company is meeting proper cultivation, extraction, or manufacturing safety standards.
“At QIMA WQS, we see an enormous potential to support and provide quality certification to the entire cannabis supply chain. Joining CSQ and its innovative approach is an exciting step into the diversification of our services and growth,” said Mario Berard, CEO of QIMA/WQS.
About Cannabis Safety & Quality
CSQ is a safety-driven company setting reliable cannabis industry standards to help companies minimize risk, protect their brand, and provide the best product for their consumers. CSQ is the first cannabis certification program that meets the GFSI Benchmarking Requirements, set to be benchmarked in 2022. The CSQ Standards were built in 2020 to meet ISO requirements, Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) requirements, and regulatory cannabis requirements from seed-to-sale. For more information about CSQ’s standards visit our website at https://wqscert.com/
