Colombia simplifies export of medicinal cannabis to Brazil after consulting ANVISA

The Special Administrative Authority of the National Narcotics Fund (FNE) of Colombia published, this week, the External Circular 001 of 2026, which changes the requirements for the export of cannabis derivatives to Brazil. The measure directly benefits Colombian licensees who manufacture derivatives of cannabis destined for Brazilian patients under the compassionate use model.

The end of the Export Certificate for individuals

The main change established by FNE director, Milver Rojas, is that the authority will no longer issue export certificates for non-psychoactive cannabis derivatives when these are intended for natural persons for their own use and therapeutic purposes in Brazil.

Previously, these products — which have THC levels equal to or greater than 0.2% and are considered special control substances in Brazilian territory — required an international certification process that created logistical bottlenecks.

ANVISA's understanding

The decision was based on an official consultation carried out by FNE with the National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA). The Brazilian agency clarified that imports made under RDC nº 660/2022 have unique characteristics that set them apart from traditional international control conventions:

• Exceptional nature:
  Authorizations are issued only to natural persons, not to companies or intermediaries.
• Impossibility of endorsement:
  Due to the high volume of requests, ANVISA stated that it is unfeasible to issue individual permits for each importation or to report specific quantities to the INCB (International Narcotics Control Board).
• Legal status:
  For Brazil, these authorizations do not constitute "import permits" under the terms of International Conventions, but rather individual exceptional authorizations.

How will the new process work?

Given the impossibility for ANVISA to issue an import document allowing reciprocal control of quantities and endorsements, the Colombian government decided to streamline the process.

Now, instead of an export certificate, Colombian licensees must request the “Concepto de Fiscalización” (Fiscalization Concept). This document will be treated as analogous to the export authorization, allowing the necessary visto bueno for the product to legally leave Colombia towards the Brazilian patient.

Effective date

The new rule came into effect on the date of its issuance, January 20, 2026, and standardizes the treatment for all non-psychoactive controlled substances, including isomers, salts, and acid forms of THC.