CBD Ban: Brits Take Up Fight And Send Lawyers To Brussels

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AUTHOR: Mark Taylor
PUBLISHER:  CANNABIS LAW REPORT

Cannabis lawyers are heading to Brussels next week to challenge a recent decision by the European Union to reclassify food products containing cannabidiol (CBD) and prohibit their sale.

While the rest of the western world moves towards an acceptance of cannabis products either medically or recreationally, the European Union pushed back in February, updating a classification of CBD under the Novel Food Regulation.

The law ((EU) 2015/2283), which applies across all member states, means any product deemed as ‘novel’ must gain authorisation from food authorities before it can be sold as a foodstuff within the EU.  A food can be considered ‘novel’ if it was not consumed by humans to any significant degree prior to May 1997.

These regulations apply to food supplements, ingredients, and substances intended to be incorporated into food. In the case of CBD, this includes extracts, oils and other derived products that are intended for ingestion by humans.

The decision caused outcry amongst pro-cannabis groups having come almost out of the blue, and now the legal troops have been mobilised in a bid to overturn the decision.

London law firm Mackrell Turner Garrett, together with a leading food and trading standards barrister, were instructed by the Cannabis Trades Association UK (CTA) to make representations to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).

Robert Jappie, head of cannabis law at Mackrell Turner Garrett and Jonathan Kirk QC, of Gough Square Chambers, will travel to Brussels on March 12 to meet with EFSA officials.

They are taking issue with the change by the EU in its submission for the term ‘cannabinoids’ states: “Extracts of Cannabis sativa L. and derived products containing cannabinoids are considered novel foods as a history of consumption has not been demonstrated. This applies to both the extracts themselves and any products to which they are added as an ingredient (such as hemp seed oil).”

Although EFSA’s Novel Food Catalogue is merely advisory, domestic regulators rely on it for guidance and are likely to act first, ask questions later.

Austria’s government interpreted the EU law in such to ban CBD even prior to the change, taking a hardline stance to the emergence of multiple shops selling oils, and even CBD-infused cakes, on the high street.

Such is the immaturity of Europe’s technically regulated CBD market, it’s true worth is almost impossible to price. US analysts say CBD could be a $22bn market by 2022; by comparison, any EU sector would larger.

While unexpected, the EU’s decision is a reminder to business of its independent thinking and willingness to act quickly in cases where it observes a potential threat to consumers.

It has long kicked back against trends emerging from the US in financial and other markets, not least since the 2008 financial crisis. It has also recently began flexing extra-territoriality muscles in regards to data regulation, positioning itself as a world police of consumer data, to the chagrin of Silicon Valley’s luminaries.
European capitalists have been closely watching the green wave sweep over the US and manoeuvring to cash in when it hits these shores, however Brussels is a different beast, and member states, however desperate for cash, are perfectly capable of slowing down the tide to give themselves and advantage.

The soaring popularity in Britain is not in question however, and can be evidenced in the CTA’s growing membership; since formation in 2016 it now boasts more than 700 members who produce a wide range of legal CBD products.

“The growth of the UK’s CBD industry has been spectacular in the last three years and its contribution to the UK economy is thought to exceed £100m ($130m) per annum,’ said Jappie.

Novel food is defined as food that was not consumed to a considerable degree by citizens of the EU prior to 1997, when the first regulation on novel food came into force.

The EU claims CBD falls into this category, however supporters say hemp flower products such as hempseed and hempseed oil (extract) are already authorized, and the ban is unlawful

“Only food products that are enriched with isolated CBD should be considered novel,” said Mike Harlington, chairman of the CTA. “Hemp extracts are not novel and this is the position we have presented for almost two years now. Our position remains unchanged. Our members’ products remain legal, and will not be removed from sale.”

FURTHER INFO

You’ll already be aware of the Mackrell Turner Garrett Cannabis practice

Here’s some further information on

Jonathan Kirk QC specialises in consumer law and financial regulation. In recent years this has primarily focused on issues of mis-selling, misleading prices, unfair terms and EU food regulation.

He is one of the two general editors of the ‘Encyclopedia of Financial Services Law’ and the author of a textbook on financial services, ‘Modern Financial Regulation‘. He is also the general editor of ‘Consumer and Trading Standards: Law and Practice’ (‘the Pink Book’)

In 2015 he represented a parking company in the seminal case of ParkingEye Limited v Beavis, arguing before the Supreme Court that a £85 parking ticket issued for overstaying on private land was not a contractual penalty or an unfair term. He also defended several national companies against allegations of mis-selling or misleading prices.

He has substantial experience of litigation involving Part 8 of the Enterprise Act 2002, having represented parties in the OFT or CMA investigations into the supermarket, ticket reselling and furniture sectors.

He advises NTS (‘National Trading Standards’), the CTSI (‘Chartered Trading Standards Institute’), the Bar Council and the Law Society on consumer law matters.

He lectures widely on EU consumer and trading standards law. He has been an approved Bar Advocacy Trainer for 10 years and was appointed as counsel at the United Nations (ICTR) in 2005 and Queen’s Counsel in 2010.

  • R (on the application of Stephanie Hudson) v Liverpool City Council (High Court, QBD, 2016): contempt proceedings against the Council for breaching its undertaking to review its decision to restructure its consumer protection services;
  • R (Kingston upon Hull City Council) v Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, Newcastle City Council and Greggs plc (High Court, Admin, 2016): represented Greggs plc, an interested party, in a judicial review of the endorsement by BIS’ Better Regulation Delivery Office (‘BRDO’) of advice given under the Primary Authority Scheme to Greggs plc, concerning provision of sanitary facilities;
  • Competition and Markets Authority v Various Supermarkets (2016): defended a supermarket in the CMA investigation into the Consumers’ Association (Which?) super-complaint about pricing and promotional practices in the groceries market;
  • Beavis v ParkingEye Ltd [2015] UKSC 67: acted for parking company in appeal to Supreme Court concerning an £85 parking charge; case is now the leading decision on penalty clauses, re-examining the scope of the common law doctrine and the approach to challenges to unfair terms in consumer contracts;
  • Competition and Markets Authority v Seatwave, Viagogo, StubHub! and Get Me In! (2015): defended the Getmein! website in the CMA investigation into the ticket re-selling market;
  • R (Hudson) v Liverpool City Council (High Court, Admin, 2015): acted in judicial review proceedings against Liverpool CC in relation to the claim that it had drastically reduced its trading standards capacity and therefore breached its European and domestic consumer protection responsibilities;
  • Torfaen County Borough Council v Tesco Stores Limited (2015) defended Tesco in allegation of mis-selling of peanuts under the Price Marking Order 2004;
  • British Parking Association v A Private Parking Enforcement Company (2015) defended a private parking company in disciplinary proceedings brought by the British Parking Association in relation to allegations of fraud by parking wardens falsely issuing parking tickets;
  • R (Wren Kitchens Limited) v Advertising Standards Authority (2015): acted for Wren Kitchens Limited in ASA adjudication on price comparisons and in subsequent judicial review proceedings;
  • Halsall & ors v Oasis Land Development Ltd (High Court, Ch Div, 2015): represented corporate defendant in a  fraudulent misrepresentation trial concerning land in the Cayman islands;
  • OFGEM v Various Energy Companies (2015): acted for OFGEM in allegations against energy companies under Part 8 EA and the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 (‘CPUT’);
  • Office of Fair Trading v Carpetright PLC, SCS, Dreams, Furniture Village Limited, Homestyle Operations Limited, Harveys and Bensons for Beds (2014): defended Carpetright PLC in the OFT’s investigation into alleged misleading reference pricing in the furniture retail sector;
  • Hertfordshire County Council and London Borough of Brent v Wendy Fair Markets Limited(High Court, Ch Div, 2014): claim under Part 8 EA 2002 for injunctive relief against market operators concerning consumer law infringements in relation to counterfeit goods;
  • Torfaen CBC v Douglas Willis Ltd [2013] UKSC 59 (Supreme Court): food standards and minimum durability labelling;
  • R v X Limited [2013] EWCA Crim 818 (Court of Appeal): first consideration of the meaning of ‘commercial practice’ under CPUT;
  • Birmingham CC v Tesco Stores Limited (2013): pricing under CPUT (strawberries);
  • Cheshire East v Salsa Enterprises Limited and Sean Ellman (2013): defence of company accused of breaching CPUT by selling ‘legal highs’;
  • R v Blake (2013): defence of managing director of finance company prosecuted for breach of financial conduct provisions;
  • OFT v First Step Finance Limited (2013): representation of company in relation to the revocation of its consumer credit licence;
  • House of Cars Ltd v Derby Car and Van Rental (2012): first private prosecution under CPUT;
  • East Riding of Yorks v UK Parking Control Ltd (2012) (CC, HC (QBD) and CofA): first trading standards enforcement of CPUT in private car parking enforcement;
  • R (LOCOG) v Sportsworld Limited, Events International Limited and International Corporate Events Limited (2012): defence of national ticket sales company prosecuted under the provisions of the 2006 Olympic Act;
  • Brighton & Hove CC v Towers Property Developments Ltd (High Court, Ch Div, 2011): first Part 8 EA 2002 and CPUT trading standards enforcement against land banking company.

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