New Anvisa RDC raises quality standards for laboratories testing cannabis in Brazil
Published in the Federal Official Gazette, RDC No. 1,039/2026 establishes good practice criteria, ISO 17025 accreditation, and accreditation rules within Reblas, directly impacting the quality control of medical cannabis and industrial hemp products.
The Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency (Anvisa) published Collegiate Board Resolution (RDC) No. 1,039, of August 26, 2026, consolidating and modernizing technical good practice requirements for public and private analytical laboratories in Brazil. The measure covers all facilities performing quality control testing, analytical tests, or release reports for products subject to sanitary surveillance.
Although it addresses the laboratory ecosystem broadly, the rule has a direct impact on the medical cannabis and industrial hemp industries. With the sector's growth in the country and the requirement for strict cannabinoid profiles—in addition to the control of contaminants such as heavy metals, pesticides, and mycotoxins—the qualification of analytical facilities becomes decisive for patient safety and the efficiency of Brazilian and importing companies.
Technical requirements and ISO 17025 accreditation
RDC No. 1,039/2026 requires laboratories active in quality control to adopt international quality management guidelines, including mandatory compliance with ABNT NBR ISO/IEC 17025 parameters. The standard establishes a transition period of 1 year for facilities to achieve full compliance.
In addition to technical infrastructure, the resolution details obligations regarding:
- Biosafety and waste management: Strict requirements for containment and proper sample disposal.
- Technical responsibility: Mandatory presence of a qualified professional heading analytical operations.
- Accreditation and Reblas: New rules for including laboratories in the Brazilian Network of Analytical Health Laboratories (Reblas) and for conducting regulatory and control analyses.
The impact on the cannabis market
It is worth noting that RDC No. 1,039/2026 operates complementarily to sector-specific regulations. The health requirements under technical cannabis regulations remain in full effect, but the procedures and infrastructure of laboratories issuing certificates of analysis will now be audited under the updated standards of the new resolution.
Compliance within the one-year deadline established by Anvisa will be essential to avoid bottlenecks in issuing release reports and ensure compliance with sanitary standards in the Brazilian market.