Lesotho, the first African country to license medical cannabis cultivation, is enforcing stricter import‑export permit procedures and laboratory testing requirements under its November 2025 Cannabis Regulations Amendment (Legal Notice No. 155 of 2025). The changes are reshaping who can viably export from the kingdom in 2026.
What changed in the regulations
The 2025 amendment introduced specific permit forms and fees (updated Form B, Schedule I), stronger compliance evidence requirements (destruction certificates, Narcotics Bureau‑endorsed export permits), and enhanced lab testing expectations aligned with GMP‑oriented quality control and third‑party testing for export dossiers.
Market reality: fewer active exporters
Although Lesotho has issued roughly 140–150 cannabis licenses since its program opened, recent industry analysis suggests only a small fraction remain fully operational, with just a handful actively exporting. The tighter permit and testing regime favours operators with robust QA/QC systems, GMP‑oriented processing facilities, and sufficient working capital to cover compliance, testing and permit costs.
What CBD and hemp businesses should do
- Audit your documentation: Ensure cultivation, processing and destruction records match permit conditions.
- Upgrade lab partnerships: Work with accredited laboratories that can provide certificates of analysis acceptable to target markets.
- Align with international buyers early: Engage EU/UK distributors on their specific documentation and testing requirements before shipping.
Lesotho remains a strategic export hub, but the bar for participation has risen. Expect continued regulatory refinement as the Ministry of Health and the Narcotics Bureau respond to industry feedback and international compliance expectations.
Related reading
- Lesotho: The Tiny Kingdom Quietly Becoming Africa's Cannabis Export Powerhouse
- Africa overview – CBDAFRICA
- Cultivators – CBDAFRICA
Information only: cannabis, hemp and CBD laws can change. Check the current requirements with the relevant regulator or a qualified local adviser before acting.