This is Part 1 of a four-part series discussing cannabis regulation in Europe. Part 1 serves as an introduction. Part 2 next week will analyze the differences between the UK, EU and US. Please look forward to the follow-up report.
Walking through a cannabis expo in Europe (events like Cultiva Hanfexpo, Cannafest Prague, Spannabis), it’s easy to marvel at the differences from the US. First, there are no THC products or CBD foods. drinks or sweets. This is due to the EU New Foods Regulation, which “applies to foods not commonly used for human consumption before May 15, 1997”.
As a result, American CBD makers, who have virtually no regulation for cannabinoid-infused products, are in a very good position. In the EU, any “novel food” must be tested and proven to be safe for human consumption.
Still, hemp wasn’t always considered “new”. In 1997, hemp plant products were considered outside the scope of the EC 258/97 regulation. And more specifically, “that hemp flower … is considered a food ingredient” (e.g., used in the production of beer-like beverages). So it’s not “new”.
So, until the end of 2018, nature was more or less in line with the legal system, and extracts of cannabidiol (CBD) were considered “novel” only if the level of CBD was “higher than the norm.” Many products were safely marketed. CBD levels in Cannabis Sativa L, the source of the plant itself. “
Read full article at https://www.nugmag.com/the-cbd-regulatory-environment-in-europe-part-1/
