NDAC 33-44-01-55
Manufacturing facility quality control and quality assurance program
Cite as N.D. Admin. Code ยง 33-44-01-55
1.
A manufacturing facility shall develop and follow a written quality control and quality assurance
program. The program must be established to protect qualifying patient health and
implemented in a manner to assist in complying with testing required in sections 33-44-01-42,
33-44-01-43, and 33-44-01-44. A manufacturing facility is not prohibited by these rules to test
marijuana and usable marijuana as part of a quality control and quality assurance program.
2.
A quality control and quality assurance program must include an assessment of the profile of
the active ingredients, including expiration date, and the presence of inactive ingredients and
contaminants. Testing results must be used to determine appropriate conditions and expiration
dates.
3.
A manufacturing facility shall develop and follow written procedures for sampling marijuana
and usable marijuana. Procedures must be developed related to sampling methods, sample
collection, and documentation of sampling. Test results from random samples must be
retained for at least three years.
4.
The manufacturing facility shall develop and follow written procedures for performing stability
testing of usable marijuana to determine product expiration date. Once an expiration date has
been determined through testing described in subsection 5, a manufacturing facility must
perform periodic stability testing to verify expiration dates.
5.
If stability testing has not been completed within one year of production, a manufacturing
facility may assign a tentative expiration date based on available stability information. Stability
testing is to include, at a minimum, an assessment of microbiological contaminants and
mycotoxins, heavy metals, and concentration. If applicable, the stability testing must include
water activity and moisture content or solvents. If an expiration date is one year or less, at a
minimum, a stability test must be performed once before fifty percent of the period has expired
and at the end of the expiration date. If an expiration date is more than one year, at a
minimum, a stability test must be performed at no less than six-month intervals and at the end
of the expiration date. After the manufacturing facility verifies the tentative expiration date, or
determines the appropriate expiration date, the manufacturing facility shall include the
expiration date on each batch of marijuana or usable marijuana.
6.
A manufacturing facility shall retain a uniquely labeled reserve sample representing each
harvest lot, process lot of cannabinoid concentrate to be packaged in a container for transfer
to a dispensary, and process lot of medical cannabinoid product for at least six months
following the expiration date. The reserve sample must be stored in the same immediate
container-closure system the usable marijuana is packaged in for dispensaries, or in one that
has similar characteristics. The reserve sample must consist of the quantity necessary to
perform all required tests.