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Cannabis

Uruguay was the first country in the world to regulate the production of cannabis, for recreational, medicinal and industrial use in December 2013. Several decrees have favored the development of this industry in Uruguay, not only at the production level, but also in the promotion of scientific investigation and expansion of markets.

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Opening a Company

Environmental management

Building works and transport

Connection to services

Sector specific procedures

Trademarks and patents

Hiring of personnel

Cannabis specific procedures

In order to grow, harvest, manufacture and commercialize cannabis for the production and extraction of raw material and cannabis-based products for medicinal use, it is a requirement to obtain a license by the Cannabis Control and Regulation Institute (IRCAA), as well as having the approval of the MSP (Ministry of Public Health).

In the following link you will find the necessary information to obtain the IRCAA license.

CARRY OUT PROCEDURE
In Uruguay, growing non-psychoactive hemp for non-medicinal use is subject to a series of requirements and authorizations issued by the Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries (MGAP) and the General Directorate of Agricultural Services (DGSA). Such authorizations cover a variety of activities such as the import, export, trade, planting, farming and harvesting of hemp.
Prior to submitting the application for operation, with the associated work plan, companies must register at the RUO (Single Registry of Operators) of the DGSA. Form 134a and designating the responsible technicians in form 134F, as well as registering the bases of the operations, storage, etc. through form 134E.
CARRY OUT PROCEDURE
Note: Before they are appointed by the company, Agricultural Engineers must also register with the RUO as technicians using Form 134a, and submit their original diploma or a certified copy.
The MGAP may send the request of operation to the Anti-Money Laundering Secretariat for its evaluation, and thus the individual or legal entity must attach to their request the documentation specified by the SENACLAFT (National Secretariat on Money Laundering and Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism) guidelines.
DOWNLOAD INSTRUCTIONS
Note: Questions regarding the content of said guidelines may be sent to the following e-mail address: secantilavado@presidenica.gub.uy using the “Subject” to inform that it is a question about hemp.

Interested individuals or legal entities must submit a note addressed to the Director of said Institution (Agricultural Engineer Leonardo Olivera), requesting authorization to carry out hemp-related activities (planting, growing, harvesting, conditioning, importing, exporting, industrialization and commercialization). The note must be signed by the legal representative of the company and the Agricultural Engineer responsible for the whole productive process.

The General Directive of Agricultural Services (DGSA) will only grant hemp industrialization permits for non-medical use (fiber, bi polymers, etc. or for the development of hemp-based food, edible oil, protein flour or terpenes and isolated cannabinoids that are not considered narcotic drugs by the International Narcotics Board).

The template for the work plan that must be submitted is provided.

DOWNLOAD TEMPLATE
Prior to the decision of authorization/renewal for the production or trade of flowers or biomass for export or cannabinoid extraction for non-medical use, the legal entity will be notified that it must pay the amount due of the fee called “Technical verification of hemp crops” found in the INASE fee index, under heading 8.
See rates
  1. Make a deposit or wire transfer in the national currency to the following: bank BROU in checking account Nº 001557528-00004
  2. Send the proof of payment to the following e-mail facturas@inase.uy copying cannabisnp@mgap.gub.uy along with the following information for invoicing.
  3. Name of legal entity or individual
  4. E-mail
  5. Legal entity or individual’s registration number for invoicing
  6. File N° for the application requesting authorization or renewal (provided by the DGSA when the application is submitted to the entry desk).
See file number

As of July 1, 2021 the legal entities must also pay, prior to the decision, the following fees according to the type, scale and product of harvest. This fee must be paid at the treasury of the DGSA offices; Millán street 4703, at the corner of Vedia street, in the Sayago neighborhood of Montevideo or it may be deposited in the national currency at BROU bank in the following checking account: 1558187-00077.

In this case, and in order to issue the relevant receipt, it is also necessary to attach in an e-mail the proof of deposit or transfer and address it to cannabisnp@mgap.gub.uy, adding the file number, legal entity name and registration number for invoicing.

Horticultural crops: (flower harvest, feminized high CBD seeds)

Hectares Greenhouse/macro-tunnel (mts2) Annual Cost ($U)
0-5
0-600
Free of charge
5-20
601-1200
5160
20-50
1201-2500
12900
>50
>2500
23220

Agricultural crops. (grains, seeds for agricultural use or stalk biomass)

Hectares Annual Cost (Uruguayan Peso)
0-100
Free of charge
101-500
5160
>500
12900
Medicinal Cannabis

In order to grow, harvest, manufacture and commercialize cannabis for the production and extraction of raw material and cannabis-based products for medicinal use, it is a requirement to obtain a license by the Cannabis Control and Regulation Institute (IRCAA), as well as having the approval of the MSP (Ministry of Public Health).

In the following link you will find the necessary information to obtain the IRCAA license.

CARRY OUT PROCEDURE
Non-medicinal Cannabis (Industrial Hemp)
Uruguay was the first country in the world to regulate the production of cannabis, for recreational, medicinal and industrial use in December 2013. Several decrees have favored the development of this industry in Uruguay, not only at the production level, but also in the promotion of scientific investigation and expansion of markets.
Registration in the RUO
Prior to submitting the application for operation, with the associated work plan, companies must register at the RUO (Single Registry of Operators) of the DGSA. Form 134a and designating the responsible technicians in form 134F, as well as registering the bases of the operations, storage, etc. through form 134E.
CARRY OUT PROCEDURE
Note: Before they are appointed by the company, Agricultural Engineers must also register with the RUO as technicians using Form 134a, and submit their original diploma or a certified copy.
SENACLAFT Report
The MGAP may send the request of operation to the Anti-Money Laundering Secretariat for its evaluation, and thus the individual or legal entity must attach to their request the documentation specified by the SENACLAFT (National Secretariat on Money Laundering and Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism) guidelines.
DOWNLOAD INSTRUCTIONS
Note: Questions regarding the content of said guidelines may be sent to the following e-mail address: secantilavado@presidenica.gub.uy using the “Subject” to inform that it is a question about hemp.
Application to operate with hemp

Interested individuals or legal entities must submit a note addressed to the Director of said Institution (Agricultural Engineer Leonardo Olivera), requesting authorization to carry out hemp-related activities (planting, growing, harvesting, conditioning, importing, exporting, industrialization and commercialization). The note must be signed by the legal representative of the company and the Agricultural Engineer responsible for the whole productive process.

The General Directive of Agricultural Services (DGSA) will only grant hemp industrialization permits for non-medical use (fiber, bi polymers, etc. or for the development of hemp-based food, edible oil, protein flour or terpenes and isolated cannabinoids that are not considered narcotic drugs by the International Narcotics Board).

The template for the work plan that must be submitted is provided.

DOWNLOAD TEMPLATE
INASE (National Seed Institute) Fees
Prior to the decision of authorization/renewal for the production or trade of flowers or biomass for export or cannabinoid extraction for non-medical use, the legal entity will be notified that it must pay the amount due of the fee called “Technical verification of hemp crops” found in the INASE fee index, under heading 8.
See rates
  1. Make a deposit or wire transfer in the national currency to the following: bank BROU in checking account Nº 001557528-00004
  2. Send the proof of payment to the following e-mail facturas@inase.uy copying cannabisnp@mgap.gub.uy along with the following information for invoicing.
  3. Name of legal entity or individual
  4. E-mail
  5. Legal entity or individual’s registration number for invoicing
  6. File N° for the application requesting authorization or renewal (provided by the DGSA when the application is submitted to the entry desk).
See file number
DGSA Fee

As of July 1, 2021 the legal entities must also pay, prior to the decision, the following fees according to the type, scale and product of harvest. This fee must be paid at the treasury of the DGSA offices; Millán street 4703, at the corner of Vedia street, in the Sayago neighborhood of Montevideo or it may be deposited in the national currency at BROU bank in the following checking account: 1558187-00077.

In this case, and in order to issue the relevant receipt, it is also necessary to attach in an e-mail the proof of deposit or transfer and address it to cannabisnp@mgap.gub.uy, adding the file number, legal entity name and registration number for invoicing.

Horticultural crops: (flower harvest, feminized high CBD seeds)

Hectares Greenhouse/macro-tunnel (mts2) Annual Cost ($U)
0-5
0-600
Free of charge
5-20
601-1200
5160
20-50
1201-2500
12900
>50
>2500
23220

Agricultural crops. (grains, seeds for agricultural use or stalk biomass)

Hectares Annual Cost (Uruguayan Peso)
0-100
Free of charge
101-500
5160
>500
12900