Shimadzu 1^st Global Hemp and Cannabis Summit 2022 recently took place at Thailand Science Park. Hosted by NSTDA Characterization and Testing Service Center (NCTC) and Shimadzu Asia Pacific, the event brought together operators of businesses and establishments that require cannabis and hemp testing and analysis. The summit opening ceremony was presided over by Mr. Suchart Trisangrujira, Advisor to the Minister of Industry. He was joined by Mr. Tetsuya Tanigaki, Managing Director of Shimadzu Asia Pacific; Mr. Phoosak Hirunyatrakul, Managing Director of Bara Scientific; Assist. Prof. Suchada Chaisawat, Director of Biopharmaceutical Characterization Laboratory at King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi; and Dr. Natthaphon Wuttiphan, NCTC Director.

Mr. Suchart Trisangrujira remarked that the development of legal framework for hemp and cannabis in Thailand started in 2019 and both hemp and cannabis are now widely used for medical purposes and in a number of industries, including food & beverages and cosmetics. The law requires hemp, cannabis as well as their products to be tested for the levels of active ingredients – CBD and THC – and contaminants by accredited testing laboratories. NSTDA Characterization and Testing Service Center (NCTC) has established Cannabis Analytical Testing Laboratory – an ISO/IEC17025-accredited laboratory providing integrated services for cannabis and hemp – to support their commercial applications in research, medicine and industry.

Mr. Tetsuya Tanigaki stated that Shimadzu 1^st Global Hemp & Cannabis Summit 2022 aims at gaining insights into industry’s needs and requirements in term of cannabis testing for Shimazu to develop the best solutions to their customers. The company is also committed to public engagement through scientific and technological development and delivering advanced and innovative solutions to meet the demands of industry.

Dr. Natthaphon Wuttiphan said that NCTC is an ISO/IEC 17025 accredited laboratory center that offers a wide range of testing and analytical services covering a broad spectrum of fields and industries. Its Cannabis Analytical Testing Laboratory provides integrated testing services for cannabis and hemp in all stages from cultivation to final products (drugs, food, beverages, and cosmetics), including quality assurance and quality control of active ingredients and contaminants. NCTC also supports R&D activities in the areas of drug discovery, drug development and bioactive compounds. Shimadzu has been a strong partner of NCTC for over 8 years, supporting NCTC’s vision to become the best testing lab in Southeast Asia. With Shimadzu’s state-of-the-art technologies, NCTC is able to perform comprehensive physical, chemical and biological characterizations instrumental to the development of Thai industrial sector.

The summit was attended by 100 participants from Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Nepal, Sri Lanka, India and Thailand. In addition to the conference presentations, participants were given a tour to NCTC Cannabis Analytical Testing Laboratory. More information on NCTC, please visit: http://www.nctc.in.th/, or contact tel: 0 2117 6850, 0 2117 6864, email: nctc@nstda.or.th.