CSQ CERTIFICATION
The CSQ Certification Program and applicable standards were built around ISO/IEC 17067
Nevada Medical & Adult-Use Cannabis · Cannabis Compliance Board · NRS Title 56 · Nevada Cannabis Compliance Regulations
Nevada GMP for Cannabis
Nevada licenses and inspects every cannabis cultivation, production, sales, and testing facility through the Cannabis Compliance Board, and a production facility must meet Nevada's own Minimum Good Manufacturing Practices (NCCR Regulation 10) and cannabis-product production rules (NCCR Regulation 9). Nevada does not require a third-party GMP certificate — but CSQ is an accredited, independent way to prove the GMP program Nevada's rules already demand.
Nevada's Cannabis GMP Rules and Why CSQ Certification Is Worth It
Nevada runs a dual market, medical cannabis since 2000 and adult-use since 2017, both regulated by the Cannabis Compliance Board (CCB), a five-member board generally modeled after the Nevada Gaming Control Board. For a cannabis production facility, Nevada already writes a detailed, mandatory GMP program: a quality-control unit, written process controls, sanitation, a certified food protection manager, and pre-sale lab testing, enforced by CCB licensing and inspection under the Nevada Cannabis Compliance Regulations, and tied to Nevada's own rules, not federal 21 CFR. But Nevada requires no third-party GMP certificate and names no private standard. CSQ is an accredited, independent way to prove the GMP program Nevada's rules already demand. This page explains what Nevada actually requires, which CSQ standard fits your license, and where certification with Kiwa ASI adds value.
START HERE
Does Nevada Require Cannabis Operators to Be GMP Certified?
No — Nevada requires no accredited third-party GMP certificate. But GMP is far from optional: Nevada writes a detailed, mandatory Minimum Good Manufacturing Practices regulation for cannabis production, enforced by CCB licensing and inspection. Here is the short version, and why CSQ still matters.
WHO REGULATES WHAT
One regulator: the Cannabis Compliance Board
Nevada's medical and adult-use programs are both run by the Cannabis Compliance Board (CCB) — a five-member board generally modeled after the Nevada Gaming Control Board; the CCB took over cannabis regulation from the Department of Taxation in 2020. Cultivation, production, sales, and testing facilities are all CCB-licensed under NRS Title 56 and the Nevada Cannabis Compliance Regulations.
THE REQUIREMENT
A mandatory Minimum GMP program + CCB inspection, not a certificate
A cannabis production facility must run a mandatory Minimum GMP program (NCCR Regulation 10), meet the production and food-safety rules of Regulation 9, and have every product lab-tested (Regulation 11). No accredited third-party GMP certificate is required, Nevada names no private GMP standard, and the GMP duties are Nevada's own — not federal 21 CFR.
WHERE CSQ FITS
Voluntary — accredited proof above Nevada's GMP floor
CSQ is an accredited (ISO/IEC 17065) cannabis-specific GMP certification. Nevada doesn't require it, but it gives independent, audit-ready proof on top of Nevada's mandatory Minimum GMP program — valuable for CCB inspection readiness, diligence, and multi-state operators.
What Nevada actually requires
Nevada runs a dual market: a medical program (voter-approved in 2000; dispensary framework via Senate Bill 374 of 2013; NRS Chapter 678C) and an adult-use program (the Regulation and Taxation of Marijuana Act, Question 2 of 2016; retail sales began July 2017; NRS Chapter 678D). Both are regulated by the Cannabis Compliance Board (CCB) — a five-member board appointed by the Governor and generally modeled after the Nevada Gaming Control Board. The CCB was created by Assembly Bill 533 of 2019 and took over cannabis regulation from the Department of Taxation in 2020. The framework is NRS Title 56 and the Nevada Cannabis Compliance Regulations (NCCR).
For a cannabis production facility — the maker of edibles, concentrates, and infused products — GMP is the law. Nevada mandates a detailed Minimum Good Manufacturing Practices program (NCCR Regulation 10): a quality-control unit, written process controls assuring “identity, strength, quality and purity,” and sanitary building, water, pest, and waste controls. On top of that, the production rule (NCCR Regulation 9) requires SOPs and closed-loop solvent controls, a certified food protection manager, and a HACCP plan for special processes; every product is tested before sale by an independent, ISO/IEC 17025-accredited laboratory (NCCR Regulation 11). Distinctively, Nevada carves cannabis production out of the state food code (NCCR 6.105) — it is regulated and inspected by the CCB under the cannabis rules, not by a health department. What Nevada does not do is require an accredited third-party GMP certificate — its rules name no private standard (no SQF, BRCGS, FSSC, ISO 22000/22716, or CSQ), and the GMP duties are Nevada's own, not federal 21 CFR Part 111 or 117. GMP is verified by CCB licensing and inspection. So in Nevada CSQ is voluntary: accredited, independent proof of the GMP program Nevada's rules already demand.
FIND YOUR PATH
Match Your Nevada License to the Right CSQ Standard
CSQ is voluntary in Nevada, so this is about which scope fits if you pursue certification. Match your CCB license type to the CSQ standard that fits; an operator that both cultivates and produces can combine scopes into one coordinated audit with Kiwa ASI.
Cannabis Cultivation Facility
NRS 678A.090 · CCBSTANDARD
CSQ Cultivation v2.0.0
MINIMUM LEVEL
Level 1
PREP TIME
6–9 months
AUDIT LENGTH
~1 day onsite + 1 day offsite doc review (initial)
Grows cannabis for other licensees. Foundation: cGACP (good agricultural and collection practices) plus cGMP, with the sanitation and Minimum GMP rules of NCCR Regulation 10 and mandatory pre-sale testing by an ISO/IEC 17025 lab (NCCR Regulation 11).
Cannabis Production Facility
NCCR Reg 9 & 10 · CCBSTANDARD
CSQ Extraction / Manufacturing v2.0.0
MINIMUM LEVEL
Level 1
PREP TIME
6–9 months
AUDIT LENGTH
~1 day onsite + 1 day offsite doc review (initial)
The maker of edibles, concentrates, and infused products — and the license where Nevada's rules bite hardest. Nevada already mandates a Minimum GMP program (Regulation 10), production SOPs and closed-loop solvent controls, and a certified food protection manager (Regulation 9); this is where CSQ maps most directly. CSQ items to watch: beverage-grade CO₂ (99.5%) and food-grade non-denatured ethanol for extraction, inhalation-grade ingredients, the 10 mg-per-serving edible homogeneity rule, and the Nevada Universal Cannabis Symbol stamped or molded on each single serving (NCCR 12.020).
Cannabis Sales Facility
NRS 678A.130 · CCBSTANDARD
CSQ Retail v1.0.0
MINIMUM LEVEL
Level 1
PREP TIME
4–6 months
AUDIT LENGTH
~1 day onsite + 1 day offsite doc review (initial)
An adult-use cannabis retail store or a medical cannabis dispensary. Built on cGHP (good handling practices) — storage, handling, inventory control, and seed-to-sale tracking in Metrc, the CCB-designated system, plus product-hold and withdrawal handling.
Cannabis Independent Testing Laboratory
NCCR Reg 11 · ISO/IEC 17025STANDARD
ISO/IEC 17025
MINIMUM LEVEL
N/A
PREP TIME
Varies
AUDIT LENGTH
Per accreditation body
Nevada requires product testing by an independent, CCB-licensed laboratory accredited to ISO/IEC 17025 (NCCR Regulation 11). CSQ does not certify testing labs; it requires them to be ISO/IEC 17025 accredited — which is lab-competence accreditation, not the same as CSQ's ISO/IEC 17065.
NEVADA REQUIRES VS. CSQ GOES FURTHER
What's a State Rule, and What's a CSQ Best Practice?
Nevada's regulations are the legal floor — and, unusually, that floor already includes a detailed Minimum GMP program, enforced by CCB licensing and inspection and mandatory lab testing. CSQ is a voluntary published standard that documents GMP beyond that floor — and gives independent, accredited proof of the program Nevada already demands. Knowing which is which keeps you from over-buying or under-preparing.
What Nevada requires (the legal floor)
- A CCB license for each facility — medical NRS Chapter 678C; adult-use NRS Chapter 678D; framework at NRS Title 56 and the Nevada Cannabis Compliance Regulations (NCCR)
- A mandatory Minimum Good Manufacturing Practices program for production — quality-control unit, written process controls, sanitation — NCCR Regulation 10
- Production controls: SOPs, closed-loop solvent extraction, a certified food protection manager, and a HACCP plan for special processes — NCCR Regulation 9
- Pre-sale testing by an independent, ISO/IEC 17025-accredited laboratory — NCCR Regulation 11; NRS 678B.290
- The Nevada Universal Cannabis Symbol on packaging, stamped or molded on each single serving of an edible — NCCR 12.020
- Edible THC limits: 10 mg per serving and 100 mg per package (other product forms differ) — NCCR 12.010; 9.045
- Opaque, child-resistant packaging and mandated warnings; no products shaped like a person, animal, or fruit — NRS 678B.520; NCCR 12.015
- Seed-to-sale tracking in Metrc, the CCB-designated system, with five-year records — NCCR 6.082, 6.080
- No accredited third-party GMP certificate is required — Nevada names no private GMP standard, and its GMP is its own, not 21 CFR
What CSQ adds (voluntary best practice)
- An accredited (ISO/IEC 17065) cannabis GMP certification — independent, audit-ready proof beyond CCB inspection
- Built to meet the Minimum GMP and production rules Nevada requires (NCCR Regulation 9 and Regulation 10)
- A documented internal audit program (Section 1.5) and CAPA system (Section 1.6)
- An annual mock recall (Section 1.8) and verified traceability test — the recall, mock-recall, and product-withdrawal procedures Nevada's rules assume but do not spell out
- Cannabinoid and non-cannabinoid waste streams kept completely separated (Section 2A.4 / 2B.4)
- Beverage-grade CO₂ (99.5%) for extraction — medical-grade is not acceptable
- Inhalation-grade ingredients for inhalable products (food-grade/GRAS is not sufficient)
- CCB inspection readiness, investor/lender/M&A diligence, multi-state standardization, and buyer assurance
- A HACCP team and certified lead (Level 2 only — not a Nevada requirement)
- What CSQ does not replace: CCB licensing and inspection, mandatory lab testing, and the per-serving Nevada Universal Cannabis Symbol stamp/mold (NCCR 12.020) remain the operator's duty
Quick glossary — the terms that show up in a Nevada CSQ audit
Nevada cannabis laws
Medical cannabis was voter-approved in 2000 and built out by Senate Bill 374 of 2013 (now NRS Chapter 678C); adult-use was approved as the Regulation and Taxation of Marijuana Act (Question 2 of 2016; NRS Chapter 678D). Both sit under NRS Title 56, “Regulation of Cannabis.”
Cannabis Compliance Board (CCB)
Nevada's cannabis regulator — a five-member board appointed by the Governor and generally modeled after the Nevada Gaming Control Board. The CCB was created by Assembly Bill 533 of 2019 and took over cannabis regulation from the Department of Taxation in 2020. Not a health department and not a generic commission.
Nevada Cannabis Compliance Regulations (NCCR)
The CCB's implementing rules (Regulations 1–12) under NRS Title 56. Regulation 9 covers production of cannabis products, Regulation 10 the Minimum Good Manufacturing Practices, Regulation 11 testing laboratories, and Regulation 12 labeling and packaging.
Cannabis production facility
The CCB license (NRS 678A.125) for making edibles, concentrates, and infused products — the license where Nevada's Minimum GMP and production rules apply most directly. (Nevada calls the maker a “production facility,” not a “processor.”)
NCCR Regulation 10 (Minimum GMP)
Nevada's own mandatory Minimum Good Manufacturing Practices for cannabis cultivation and preparation — a quality-control unit, written process controls assuring identity, strength, quality and purity, and sanitary facility controls. It reads like federal drug/supplement cGMP but is Nevada's own rule, not 21 CFR.
Nevada Universal Cannabis Symbol
Nevada's required warning mark: a rounded, upward-pointing triangle with a bold exclamation mark above the letters “THC.” It must appear on packaging and be stamped or molded on each single serving of an edible (NCCR 12.020). It is not Colorado's red diamond, and it may not be modified.
ISO/IEC 17025
The competence standard for testing laboratories. Nevada requires its cannabis testing laboratories to hold ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation (NCCR Regulation 11). CSQ requires the labs it relies on to hold the same — it is not the same as ISO/IEC 17065.
ISO/IEC 17065
The accreditation standard for bodies that certify products and processes. CSQ is delivered by ASI Food Safety as an ISO/IEC 17065-accredited certification body — the basis for an independent, accredited GMP certificate.
THE AUDIT
What a CSQ Audit Actually Looks Like
A Nevada CSQ audit is an onsite review of your quality management system against the standard that fits each activity you perform. Here is how scoring, findings, and timing work — followed by the technical mapping table for the people who want it.
Scoring (100-point scale)
How CSQ scores you and what it means for your certificate
| Score | Outcome | Surveillance Cycle |
|---|---|---|
| 80–100 | Certificate issued | Annual surveillance audit |
| 70–79 | Certificate issued | 6-month surveillance audit |
| Below 70 | No certificate | 6-month wait before re-audit |
Findings categories
CRITICAL · –100 POINTS
Auto-fail finding
Regulatory non-compliance, product safety risk, or foundational QMS breakdown. A single Critical finding fails the audit regardless of other scores.
MAJOR · –10 POINTS
Significant gap
Systemic failures or significant deviations from CSQ requirements — not an immediate safety risk but requires corrective action.
MINOR · –1 POINT
Isolated finding
Documentation gap, single-occurrence lapse, or correctable deviation that is not systemic.
Audit timing & certificate validity
What to expect onsite and on the calendar
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Level 1 audit | 1 day onsite + 0.5 day report time |
| Level 2 audit | 1.5 days onsite + 1 day report time |
| Level 3 audit | 2 days onsite + 1 day report time (unannounced window) |
| Initial audit add-on | +1 day for offsite documentation evaluation (all levels) |
| Corrective action window | 30 days to close nonconformities |
| Certificate validity | 1 year + 45 days from audit date |
| Initial certification blackout | No initial certifications scheduled in November or December |
| Provisional certificate | Available for new operations (valid 6 months) |
| Dietary Supplement Addendum | 4-hour minimum · Pass/Fail · separate report within 72 hours |
For consultants, internal compliance leads, and operators who want the section-by-section map between Nevada's regulations and CSQ 2.0:
Nevada cannabis rules and corresponding CSQ 2.0 sections
| Missouri Requirement | Citation | CSQ Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| CCB licensing (cultivation, production, sales, lab) | NRS Title 56 (Ch. 678A–678D); Nevada Cannabis Compliance Regulations | Module 1 (CSQMS) + Section 1.3 (Regulatory Compliance) |
| Quality-control unit; written process controls; sanitation | NCCR Regulation 10 (Minimum GMP) | Module 2A (cGMP) + Section 2A.1 (Facility Construction & Design) |
| Production SOPs; closed-loop solvents; certified food protection manager | NCCR Regulation 9 (Production of Cannabis Products) | Module 2A (cGMP) + Section 3C (formulated / ingestible product controls) |
| Employee hygiene and pre-sale QA | NCCR Regulation 6 | Section 2A.5 (Personnel Training and Hygiene) |
| Edible THC limits; Universal Cannabis Symbol + per-serving stamp | NCCR 12.010; 12.020 | Section 2A.12.8 / 2B.11.6 (Product Labeling and Packaging) |
| Independent laboratory testing | NCCR Regulation 11 (ISO/IEC 17025); NRS 678B.290 | Section 2A.12.9 / 2B.11.7 (Product Sampling and Testing) — CSQ requires ISO/IEC 17025 labs |
| Hold orders / imminent-hazard cessation (no titled recall) | NRS 678A.455; NCCR 4.065 | Section 1.8 (Recall & Traceability) + Section 1.6 (CAPA) |
| Seed-to-sale tracking (Metrc) + five-year records | NCCR 6.082, 6.080 | Section 1.8 (Recall & Traceability) |
How to Prepare | A Realistic Path to CSQ Certification
Because CSQ is voluntary in Nevada, step one is deciding whether it earns its place for you. If it does, most operators need 4 to 9 months, depending on license type and scope, to be ready for an initial audit. Here is a sequence that works.
01
Decide whether CSQ is right for you
Nevada doesn't require it, so weigh the value: CCB inspection readiness, investor / lender / M&A diligence, multi-state standardization, and buyer assurance. Because Nevada already mandates a Minimum GMP program, CSQ mostly certifies — and independently proves — what you are already required to do. If those matter, CSQ is worth pursuing.
02
Confirm your CSQ standard and level
Match your CCB license — cultivation facility, production facility, or sales facility — to its CSQ standard, and decide whether Level 1 is enough or you want Level 2/3. Write the answer down; it drives every other step.
03
Run a gap analysis
Compare your current state to the CSQ standard, mapped against Nevada's rules (the Minimum GMP program of NCCR Regulation 10 and the production controls of Regulation 9). ASI Training and Consulting, LLC can deliver a structured gap analysis as a separate engagement from the certification body.
04
Build the QMS documentation
Extend the controls Nevada already requires — the quality-control unit, sanitation, food-safety controls, and inventory tracking — into a full CSQ quality management system with SOPs, CAPA, internal audit, document control, and recall/traceability (the mock-recall and product-withdrawal procedures Nevada's rules assume but do not spell out).
05
Address the cannabis-specific Critical items
The findings most likely to fail a first audit: CO₂ purity, ethanol grade, inhalation-grade ingredients, waste-stream separation, and route-of-administration risk assessments. Confirm your edibles carry the Nevada Universal Cannabis Symbol on the package and stamped or molded on each single serving (NCCR 12.020) before the auditor arrives.
06
Train your team and run internal audits
Deliver competency-based, role-specific training on GMP, hygiene, PPE, allergen handling, and traceability. Then conduct a documented internal audit and an annual mock recall, and close nonconformities through CAPA.
07
Schedule your CSQ audit with Kiwa ASI
Schedule through Kiwa ASI in the CSQ Database. Allow time for the offsite documentation evaluation (1 day) plus the onsite audit (1–2 days depending on level). Request a quote to start.
Why Nevada Operators Choose Kiwa ASI
Kiwa ASI brings nearly a century of food safety expertise and the global Kiwa network's footprint in 30+ countries to Nevada — a mature dual medical and adult-use market centered on Las Vegas, where cannabis production facilities operate under the Cannabis Compliance Board's Minimum GMP rules.
Accredited
ISO/IEC 17065 + CSQ-Licensed
Audits and certificates are issued by ASI Food Safety, LLC — an ISO/IEC 17065-accredited certification body licensed by CSQ.
Expertise
Food-grade rigor for cannabis
Our auditors are credentialed food safety, GMP, and HACCP professionals with cannabis-specific qualifications. Cannabis is being regulated like food. We've been doing food for decades.
Efficiency
Direct scheduling, no surprises
Pre-audit scoping clarifies level, scope, and Module 3 requirements before you're onsite. Audit reports are turned around inside the standard CSQ timeline.
Comprehensive
Training and consulting available
Pre-assessments and gap analyses are delivered by ASI Training and Consulting, LLC, a separate legal entity, kept structurally separate from the certification body to safeguard impartiality under ISO/IEC 17065.
Continuity
Surveillance, recertification, transfer
If you're already CSQ-certified through another body and the relationship isn't working, we accept transfer audits. Continuity matters as much as the initial certificate.
Partnership
Global Kiwa network
Operations in 30+ countries. Useful when a Nevada operator expands into other state markets or builds an international supply chain.
Frequently Asked Questions About Nevada Cannabis GMP & CSQ Certification
No. Nevada does not mandate an accredited third-party GMP certificate, and it names no private GMP standard. But GMP practices are far from optional: a cannabis production facility must run a mandatory Minimum Good Manufacturing Practices program (NCCR Regulation 10), meet the production controls of Regulation 9 (including a certified food protection manager), and have every product lab-tested (Regulation 11). CSQ certification is voluntary: accredited, independent proof of that program.
Both. Nevada legalized medical cannabis by voter initiative in 2000 (dispensary framework via Senate Bill 374 of 2013) and adult-use under the Regulation and Taxation of Marijuana Act (Question 2 of 2016); adult-use retail sales began in July 2017. Both are regulated by the Cannabis Compliance Board (CCB).
The Cannabis Compliance Board (CCB) — a five-member board appointed by the Governor and generally modeled after the Nevada Gaming Control Board. It was created by Assembly Bill 533 of 2019 and took over cannabis regulation from the Department of Taxation in 2020. It is not a health department and not a generic commission. The framework is NRS Title 56 and the Nevada Cannabis Compliance Regulations.
Yes — as practices, not a certificate. A cannabis production facility must follow Nevada's Minimum Good Manufacturing Practices (NCCR Regulation 10) and its production rules (Regulation 9: SOPs, closed-loop solvents, a certified food protection manager, a HACCP plan for special processes). Nevada verifies this through CCB licensing, inspection, and lab testing — and its rules are Nevada's own, not federal 21 CFR Part 111 or 117. In fact Nevada expressly exempts cannabis production from the state food code and regulates it under the cannabis rules instead.
No. GMP compliance is verified through CCB licensing, inspection, and mandatory lab testing — not by a required outside auditor. The testing laboratory tests the product; it does not certify the producer's GMP program. A CSQ certificate is voluntary and does not replace CCB inspection or lab testing.
No. The Nevada Cannabis Compliance Regulations name no private food-safety or GMP standard for producers — not CSQ, SQF, BRCGS, FSSC, or ISO 22000/22716. The one ISO standard Nevada requires (ISO/IEC 17025) applies only to testing laboratories. CSQ is a voluntary, accredited option delivered by ASI Food Safety; it is built to meet — not to satisfy or replace — Nevada's rules.
Nevada requires its Universal Cannabis Symbol — a rounded, upward-pointing warning triangle with a bold exclamation mark above the letters “THC” (not Colorado's red diamond) — on packaging, and stamped or molded on each single serving of an edible (NCCR 12.020). That per-serving stamp is a manufacturing and mold constraint — a CSQ certificate does not discharge it. CSQ documents the controls around it, but the symbol duty remains the operator's.
For edibles, no more than 10 mg of THC per serving and 100 mg per package, and multi-serving edibles must be demarcated into standard servings (NCCR 12.010; 9.045). Other product forms have different caps — for example capsules and tinctures are limited by different per-package amounts — so the 10 mg / 100 mg figures are an edibles rule, not a blanket cap for every product.
A cannabis production facility (edibles, concentrates, infused products) uses CSQ Extraction or Manufacturing v2.0.0; a cultivation facility uses CSQ Cultivation v2.0.0; a sales facility (retail store or dispensary) uses CSQ Retail v1.0.0. Testing laboratories follow ISO/IEC 17025 (CSQ does not certify labs but requires ISO/IEC 17025). Kiwa ASI can combine scopes into one coordinated audit.
Because it turns the Minimum GMP program Nevada already requires into accredited, independent proof — and adds the recall, mock-recall, and product-withdrawal procedures Nevada's rules assume but do not spell out (Nevada has no titled recall mandate; its tools are hold orders and imminent-hazard cessation). The highest-value cases: CCB inspection readiness, investor / lender / M&A due diligence, multi-state standardization (including a harder-posture state like New York, which mandates a third-party GMP audit), and buyer assurance.
Yes — but as separate legal entities to safeguard certification-body independence. CSQ certification audits are delivered by ASI Food Safety, LLC (the accredited certification body, ISO/IEC 17065 accredited and CSQ-licensed). Pre-assessments, gap analyses, training, and consulting are delivered by ASI Training and Consulting, LLC. The two operate independently to comply with ISO/IEC 17065 impartiality rules.