New rules for the CBD market

Tough new FSA rules come into force for the growing CBD market

According to Sky News, almost eight million people purchased CBD in the UK last year, meaning that the £450m industry has grown by 50% in just 12 months. However, recent studies suggest that around 55% of customers struggle to access reliable information about the contents of CBD products.

In light of this, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) has put strict new rules in place to crack down on CBD mislabelling. Applications for “novel food” status must now be submitted to the FSA by Wednesday 31st March 2021.

To ensure consumer safety, any business that has not yet undertaken the application process must withdraw their CBD products from sale by the 31st March deadline.

“The industry is not yet compliant with the law”, said FSA chief executive Emily Miles. “The products all need to go through a food safety assessment, and we want to bring the industry into compliance. We’ve had over 200 applications, so we think the market is working to bring their products into compliance.”

What is CBD?

Short for cannabidiol, CBD is a chemical compound that originally comes from the marijuana plant. It’s a naturally occurring substance used in oils and edibles to promote calm and relaxation. Some users also believe that CBD has pain-relieving benefits.

What is a novel food?

According to the FSA, novel foods are: “Foods which have not been widely consumed by people in the UK or European Union (EU) before May 1997.” These foods don’t have a history of consumption, so must be authorised before they can be sold in the UK.

Yes. CBD is legal in the UK, however it must meet certain criteria to be lawfully available for human consumption. That’s why it’s important to buy CBD products that have been assessed and authorised by the FSA.

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