Medicinal Cannabis Import into Australia

An ODC import permit is a legal authority issued by the Office of Drug Control under the Narcotic Drugs Act 1967 that allows a licensed entity to import a specified quantity of a specified narcotic drug — including medicinal cannabis — into Australia from a specified overseas supplier. Any entity seeking to import medicinal cannabis must hold both an ODC import licence (the overarching licence for the activity) and a specific import permit for each individual shipment. The permit is not transferable and applies only to the product, quantity, and supplier named in the application. Healthcare providers such as pharmacies, clinics, and authorised prescribers do not hold import permits — they source through a licensed importer such as GLG, which carries this regulatory burden on their behalf.

The ODC's published processing timeframe for import permit applications is approximately 20 to 30 business days, assuming the application is complete and no additional information is requested. In practice, this means a well-prepared application lodged today would typically result in a permit being issued in four to six calendar weeks. Applications that are incomplete, that involve a new overseas supplier not previously assessed, or that require clarification from the ODC can take longer. GLG plans permit applications significantly ahead of anticipated supply requirements, maintaining a permit pipeline that ensures continuity of stock. Providers placing orders through GLG are insulated from permit lead times because GLG manages this cycle proactively rather than reactively.

At a minimum, overseas manufacturers must hold valid GMP certification issued by their national regulatory authority, and that certification must cover the specific product type being sourced (e.g., pharmaceutical-grade medicinal cannabis oil, dry herb, or capsules). GLG additionally reviews the scope of the GMP certificate to confirm it applies to the relevant dosage form and manufacturing process. For manufacturers in jurisdictions that are not parties to a mutual recognition arrangement with Australia, additional documentation — including facility audit reports, quality management system documentation, and batch manufacturing record samples — is required before qualification is complete. GMP certification status is verified at each order placement, not just at initial onboarding, because certificates can be suspended or withdrawn between transactions.

Each shipment is supported by a comprehensive documentation package: the original ODC import permit; a commercial invoice identifying the product, quantity, and value; a packing list; airway bill or bill of lading; a phytosanitary certificate issued by the exporting country's competent authority where required; the manufacturer's Certificate of Analysis for the batch or batches included in the shipment; and temperature monitoring records where cold-chain freight is used. Following Australian customs clearance and independent testing, GLG generates a release certificate for the batch and retains all documentation in accordance with ODC and TGA record-keeping requirements. Copies of the CoA and delivery documentation accompany each wholesale order dispatched to authorised providers.

From the moment goods are cleared through Australian customs, they are treated as Schedule 8 controlled substances and handled accordingly. Physical security requirements apply throughout transit from the border to the licensed storage facility. Upon arrival at the facility, stock is booked into the Schedule 8 inventory management system, quarantined pending independent testing, and held under condition-controlled storage until a batch release decision is made. Access to the storage area is restricted to authorised personnel. All stock movements — receipts, transfers, and dispatches — are recorded in real time. The chain-of-custody record for each batch is complete from overseas manufacturer to Australian licensed storage to final wholesale delivery, and is available for regulatory audit at any time.

In principle, a pharmacy or other healthcare entity could apply for an ODC import licence and then apply for individual import permits for each shipment. In practice, this is rarely pursued because the regulatory overhead is substantial. The entity would need to demonstrate to the ODC that it has appropriate facilities, systems, and personnel to manage imported Schedule 8 stock; it would need to manage customs clearance, independent testing, and chain-of-custody documentation; and it would need to maintain ongoing compliance with both the Narcotic Drugs Act 1967 and applicable state requirements. For most pharmacies and clinics, the core business is patient care — not narcotics importation administration. Sourcing through GLG as a licensed importer, and receiving product through our wholesale distribution network, is the operationally practical and regulatory-efficient alternative.

Any discrepancy between the physical shipment and the ODC import permit specifications — whether in product name, cannabinoid profile, THC concentration, quantity, or supplier details — triggers an immediate hold and formal non-conformance process. The batch is quarantined and cannot be released to wholesale customers. GLG notifies the ODC in accordance with its licence conditions if the discrepancy constitutes a reportable event. Depending on the nature of the discrepancy, options include returning the shipment to the overseas supplier, applying for a permit amendment where the ODC allows it, or disposing of the shipment in accordance with ODC requirements. GLG's supplier qualification and pre-shipment document review processes are specifically designed to catch discrepancies before goods depart the overseas facility, minimising the risk of non-conforming shipments arriving in Australia. See our compliance framework for further detail on how non-conformances are managed.

Cold-chain management for medicinal cannabis in international freight begins at the overseas manufacturing facility and does not end until the product is in licensed storage in Australia. For products requiring refrigerated conditions (typically 2–8°C), GLG specifies temperature-controlled air freight with validated cold-chain containers and continuous electronic temperature loggers placed within each shipment. Logger data is downloaded upon arrival and reviewed as part of the batch release process — any temperature excursion outside the validated range is investigated and, if material, results in the batch being quarantined pending a quality assessment. For ambient-stable products, validated insulated packaging with gel packs and temperature loggers is used, particularly during Australian summer months when ambient temperatures during ground handling can exceed product specifications. Temperature records form part of the batch documentation package retained for each shipment.