New Mexico Register / Volume XXXIII, Issue 6 / March 22, 2022

 

 

This is an emergency amendment to 16.8.2 NMAC amending Section 26, effective 3/10/2022.

 

16.8.2.26               CANNABIS PRODUCER POLICIES AND PROCEDURES:

                A.            Minimum policy and procedure requirements: A producer shall develop, implement, and maintain on the licensed premises, standard policies and procedures, which shall include the following:

                                (1)           cannabis testing criteria and procedures, which shall be consistent with the testing requirements of the Cannabis Regulation Act, the Lynn and Erin Compassionate Use Act, or division rules, and shall include at a minimum, the following topics:

                                                (a)           employee health and safety training materials;

                                                (b)           training requirements for the proper use of health and safety measures and controls;

                                                (c)           representative sampling and analytical testing of cannabis or cannabis products for contaminants prior to wholesale or transfer to another cannabis establishment consistent with self-sampling guidance issued annually by the division on September 1 and made available on the division website, the sunshine portal, and at the division’s district, field and regional offices;

                                                (d)           recordkeeping and chain of custody protocols for transportation of cannabis or cannabis product samples to a cannabis testing laboratory, consistent with 16.8.2.12 NMAC and 16.8.2.13 NMAC;

                                                (e)           recordkeeping and chain of custody protocols for transportation of cannabis or cannabis products to another cannabis establishment for any purpose;

                                                (f)            protocols to ensure that cannabis or cannabis products, including any samples of cannabis or cannabis products, are transported and stored in a manner that prevents degradation, contamination, tampering, or diversion, consistent with Subsection L of 16.8.7.8 NMAC;

                                                (g)           protocols for testing sample collection that ensures accurate test results, establishment consistent with self-sampling guidance issued annually by the division on September 1 and made available on the division website, the sunshine portal, and at the division’s district, field and regional offices; and

                                                (h)           procedures for remedial measures to bring cannabis or cannabis products into compliance with division standards or destruction of a tested batch of cannabis or cannabis products if the testing samples from the tested batch indicate noncompliance with applicable health and safety standards;

                                (2)           employee policies and procedures to address the following minimum requirements:

                                                (a)           adherence to state and federal laws;

                                                (b)           responding to an emergency, including robbery or a serious accident;

                                                (c)           alcohol and drug-free workplace policies and procedures;

                                                (d)           safety and security procedures;

                                                (e)           occupational safety;

                                                (f)            crime prevention techniques; and

                                                (g)           if applicable, confidentiality laws, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996; and

                                (3)           documentation prepared for each employee and statements signed by employees indicating [the topics discussed, names and titles of presenters, and the date, time, and place the employee received said receipt of policies and procedures.

                B.            Training program:

                                (1)           Licensee shall implement a training program, approved by the division, to ensure that all personnel present at the premises are provided information and training that, at minimum, covers the following topics within 30 days of the start of employment:

                                                (a)           employee health and safety training materials;

                                                (b)           health and safety hazards;

                                                (c)           hazard communication training for all solvents or chemicals used at the licensed premises and as described in the safety data sheet for each solvent or chemical;

                                                (d)           training requirements for the proper use of health and safety measures and controls;

                                                (e)           emergency procedures;

                                                (f)            security procedures; and

                                                (g)           record keeping requirements.

                                (2)           A licensee, or employee, involved in the handling, transportation, manufacture, extraction, testing, or packaging of cannabis products must successfully complete a food handler course accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) prior to conducting any related activities. Such training shall be maintained while employed under a manufacturing licensee. The licensee shall obtain documentation evidencing the fulfillment of this requirement.

                C.            Training documentation:

                                (1)           Licensee shall ensure that all personnel receive annual refresher training to cover, at minimum, the topics listed in this section. The licensee shall maintain a record, which contains at minimum:

                                                (a)           a list of all personnel at the premises, including at minimum, name and job duties of each;

                                                (b)           documentation of training topics and dates of training completion for all personnel;

                                                (c)           dates of refresher training completion for all personnel;

                                                (d)           the signature of verifying receipt and understanding of each training or refresher training completed.

                                (2)           Licensee may designate supervisory personnel with responsibility to oversee the requirements of this section.

                D.            Retention of training documentation: Licensees shall maintain documentation of an employee’s training for a period of two years for current employees and at least six months after the termination of an employee’s employment.

[16.8.2.26 NMAC – N, 08/22/2021; A/E, 12/06/2021; A/E, 03/10/2022]