The UK’s Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Food Standards Scotland (FSS) expects to make recommendations to Ministers across Great Britain on the first authorisations of CBD novel food applications in the spring or summer of next year.
Edible cannabidiol (CBD) products are considered novel foods, and must secure appropriate authorisation to be placed on the market in Great Britain. However, the FSA’s Public List of CBD products (applicable in England and Wales) has allowed products linked to a valid market authorisation application to remain on the market while the industry shifts to novel food regulation compliance. At the time of writing, there were more than 12,000 products listed; indicating just how popular CBD is.
But just three applications for CBD have now received positive safety assessments from the FSA/FSS. These are now undergoing risk management considering any other factors that could affect authorisation before making a recommendation to Ministers.
The FSA says should Ministers decide to authorise CBD applications, it will need to consider any impacts on the CBD Public List in England and Wales.
The FSA/FSS also intends to make recommendations to Ministers on CBD food products containing THC under current food law – and most would have some trace amounts. While levels would be nowhere near intoxicating, the FSA says it will need to consider the legal and operational implications of regulating a product that is considered both a food and a drug.
The first recommendations expected to be made will follow an eight-week public consultation due to launch in early 2025. But first there needs to be agreement from the Board regarding the principles that will underpin the FSS/FSA’s risk management of CBD and how the principles will be applied in practice for CBD novel food applications.
The FSA says scientific assessment to date shows that CBD does not pose an acute safety risk at 10mg a day for a healthy adult. The FSA and FSS updated their advice on maximum daily cannabidiol consumption in October last year. Prior, its advice was healthy adults should not take more than 70 mg of CBD per day. The change in advice was made based on what the agencies say was evidence of some adverse impacts on the liver and thyroid of sustained use beyond 10mg.
