Warning for UK CBD industry as regulator sets approval deadline

Products containing cannabis extract cannabidiol (CBD) are set to be “taken off the shelves” next year if they fail to gain regulatory approval.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has announced that products must be officially registered by March 2021 to avoid being withdrawn.

The CBD industry has grown in the UK over the past several years, with consumers using CBD oils, snacks and and drinks for a range of medicinal purposes, including pain relief and to combat insomnia.

Despite the growing popularity of the non-psychoactive substance, no products in the UK have yet been approved by FSA standards.

The agency has also issued new advice on the use of CBD, including information on interactions with medication.

FSA boss Emily Miles explained: “The CBD industry must provide more information about the safety and contents of these products to the regulator by March 2021, or the products will be taken off the shelves.”