GLASGOW food safety business R-Biopharm Rhône has teamed up with an unnamed Canadian cannabis producer to supply test kits aimed at eradicating carcinogenic toxins in cannabis-based products.

R-Biopharm Rhône specialises in creating kits that test for toxins in a range of foodstuffs such as milk, spices, cereals and animal feeds.

With Canada legalising cannabis for recreational and medicinal use last October, the producer working with R-Biopharm Rhône has engaged the firm’s services to ensure its products can be certified toxin-free too.

R-Biopharm Rhône product manager Claire Milligan said: “Just like any other ingestible item, strict consumer protection legislation requires that cannabis products, including oils, cookies and cannabis plants themselves, should be tested for the presence of dangerous toxins.

“While the legality of cannabis products in the UK is currently the subject of wide-ranging debate, in those jurisdictions, such as Canada, certain states in the US, Spain, Portugal and the Netherlands where consumption of cannabis products is permitted, testing for toxins remains of great importance.

“In the wake of the sale to our Canadian customer we anticipate further demand for our test kits in other regions where consumption of cannabis is legal as well as perhaps, at some stage, here in the UK.”