Definition of Opium:
The production of opium from opium poppy plants, involving latex extraction and drying from seed pods.
Licensing Requirements
Cultivation License: Required for growing opium poppy.
Manufacturing License: Necessary for processing poppy straw into opiates like morphine and heroin.
Manufacturing Process
Harvesting: Collecting mature poppy seed pods to maximize latex yield.
Latex Extraction: Scoring seed pods to release opium alkaloid-rich latex.
Drying: Drying latex to produce raw opium.
Purification: Removing impurities to achieve desired potency.
Conversion to Opiates: Chemically processing opium into morphine, heroin, or derivatives for medical/industrial use.
Quality Control
Purity Standards: Ensuring compliance with regulatory purity and potency standards.
Testing: Laboratory testing for contaminants, adulterants, and alkaloid content.
Documentation: Maintaining detailed records of batches, raw materials, and processing parameters.