Health Ministry: Regulating the cultivation of medicinal and scientific research plants under strict controls
AbdulKarim Al-Abdullah: Minister of Health Dr. Ahmed Al-Awadi has issued a decision regarding the conditions and regulations for cultivating narcotic plants for medical and scientific research purposes. The decision establishes a comprehensive supervisory system that begins with identifying the entities authorized to cultivate and obtain licenses, proceeds through regulations governing the import, receipt, dispensing, and storage of seeds and plants, and documents their movement, and culminates in requirements for securing cultivation sites, mechanisms for handling loss or the completion of the cultivation purpose, and the destruction of crops.
The decision permits government entities, research centers, universities, colleges, and licensed public and private specialized institutes to cultivate narcotic plants listed in Schedule No. (5) of the First Group attached to Law Decree No. 159 of 2025, under a license issued by the Minister of Health and solely for medical or scientific research purposes.
The decision specified the requirements for submitting applications for licenses to cultivate narcotic plants, which must be submitted to the Licenses Control Department for Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances and Preparations under the Ministry of Health, and all submitted documents must be valid.
The requirements include:
- The name and address of the applying entity.
- Necessary legal licenses and permits to operate research centers, universities, colleges, or licensed and specialized institutes, in the case of the private sector.
- The name of the plant seeds.
- The type of plant seeds.
- The quantity of plant seeds to be cultivated.
- The purpose of cultivation.
- The location of cultivation.
- The cultivation period.
- Details of the exporting and importing entities.
- A copy of the civil ID of the official responsible for the custody of plants and seeds.
- A preliminary template of the dispensing register for narcotic plant seeds for approval by the Control Department.
- A preliminary template of seed dispensing receipts for approval by the Control Department.
- Any other documents requested by the Licenses Control Department for Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances and Preparations.
Furthermore, the requirements outlined in the decision include completing the forms and registers related to the movement and dispensing of seeds, and obtaining their approval from the competent supervisory authority.
Mandatory data. Article Three stipulates that a set of data must be recorded in the registers documenting the dispensing of seeds from narcotic plants. These include: a sequential page number for the register, the name of the department for which the register is designated, the name and type of plant, the quantity received, the date and number of the receipt voucher, the source entity, the dispensing date, the quantity dispensed, the date and number of the dispensing voucher, the requesting entity, the recipient’s full three-part name, his title, and place of work, the remaining quantity, the signature and stamp of the custodian in charge, along with a remarks column.
Article Four organizes the data required in the vouchers for dispensing seeds or narcotic plants. These include: a sequential page number for the voucher register, the name and type of plant, the date of the request, the requested quantity, the dispensing date, and the entity to which the items were dispensed. The voucher must also include the recipient’s name and signature, with the custodian retaining the original request and providing a copy to the requesting entity.
According to Article Five, the requesting entity is obligated to designate a custodian for the seeds and plants, who must be a licensed pharmacist authorized to practice pharmacy in the State of Kuwait.
Article Six imposes a number of supervisory procedures on the custodian of seeds and plants, including: recording the seeds and plants in the dedicated register; not dispensing any seeds or plants except against a dispensing voucher; and retaining the register and dispensing vouchers for three years from the date of the last entry. It also mandates retaining purchase invoices and licenses for trading, importing, exporting, and cultivation for three years, and ensuring that requesting departments record the materials in their departmental register. The custodian is further obligated to return any unused or expired quantities of dispensed seeds to the source entity.
The decision emphasizes that registers, dispensing vouchers, purchase invoices, and import and cultivation licenses may not be destroyed without obtaining approval from the Licenses Control Department for Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances under the Ministry of Health.
Article Seven stipulates that the license holder is required to store seeds and plants in a secure and sealed location, ensuring they are not leaked or used for purposes other than those for which the license was issued.
Under Article Eight, if the purpose for which the license was granted for cultivating narcotic plants is completed or the cultivation license is canceled, the license holder must destroy the crop and any remaining quantity of seeds. This destruction must take place in the presence of a committee formed by the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Health, ensuring that the disposal of narcotic plants and seeds is subject to official supervision.
Reporting the Loss of Seeds or Plants
Article Nine stipulates that in the event of the loss of any seeds or plants, the custodian is required to immediately notify the police station where the incident occurred, as well as the Inspection and Pharmaceutical Licensing Department under the Ministry of Health. The Administration is also mandated to submit a report to the General Administration of Legal Affairs within 48 hours of reporting the incident, with the General Administration of Legal Affairs taking the necessary measures in accordance with prevailing regulations and systems.
The decree’s provisions include an inventory of narcotic seeds and plants conducted by the competent Administration, in the presence of a committee formed by the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Health, thereby enhancing oversight of existing quantities and ensuring their reconciliation with official records and documents.
Article Eleven stipulates that in the event of the loss or damage of licenses, records, or documents pertaining to these materials, the Inspection and Pharmaceutical Licensing Department under the Ministry of Health must be notified immediately. A report on the incident must also be submitted to the General Administration of Legal Affairs at the Ministry of Health within 48 hours of the occurrence.
Article Twelve imposes strict security requirements on licensed premises, mandating that the designated cultivation site be enclosed by a security fence and under strict security guard provided by the licensed entity. It also prohibits unauthorized persons from entering the site.
Article Thirteen requires monitoring of licenses for narcotic materials and psychotropic preparations by notifying the General Administration for Combating Narcotics under the Ministry of Interior of entities licensed to cultivate plants listed in Schedule No. (5) of the First Group.
License Duration
Article Fourteen sets the license validity period at two years from the date of issuance and obligates the license holder to submit a renewal request before the expiration of the stipulated period.
Article Fifteen grants the Minister of Health, or his delegate, the authority to reject or revoke the license whenever necessary.
Article Sixteen stipulates that employees of the Ministry of Health appointed by the Minister have the right to verify compliance with the provisions of Decree-Law No. 159 of 2025 and its implementing regulations, thereby providing a framework for continuous inspection and follow-up of licensed entities.
Article Seventeen obligates the license holder to submit a report to the Ministry of Health within the first week following the end of each three-month period. The report must include details of materials disposed of and the remaining quantities of narcotic seeds and plants during the specified period, and should be sent to the Inspection and Pharmaceutical Licensing Department at the Ministry of Health.
