MyNameIsTerry
01-02-19, 14:39
Hi all,
I get emails from a natural health mag I once signed up to and today there was a report about CBD oils being seized from the shelves as it has been banned in the EU. I noticed the source was the Daily Mail so Google a few variations of to see what more credible media sources said. I could only find another article by the Express...who are as bad as the DM.
You may see this today:
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6641929/Watchdogs-plan-ban-popular-CBD-cannabis-oil-despite-experts-claiming-eases-anxiety.html
https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1079800/brexit-news-CBD-oil-EU-food-regulations-european-commission-food-standards-agency
But it's scaremongering nonsense. Supplies are NOT being pulled from shelves by local Trading Standards offices. This was an instant red flag to me since product recalls are fairly common and CBD oil is a mainstream product now that is available in larger stores and chains as opposed to the small niche shops it started in.
I also can't find a reference to this activity and the FSA are still showing the product as legally available for sale.
What it appears to be about is that several EU countries, including ours, have pursued placing CBD oil on the Novel Foods register. This means it now has to be tested & proven to be safe/not detrimental. It is not a test of efficiency, purely health safety. This register covers new foods to the market not previously consumed in EU states (whether a main food or ingredient) prior to May 1997.
Unfortunately it is unknown whether sale will be allowed to continue until they obtain Novel Foods status. The industry is arranging all this and discussing this matter with the FSA but so far there is no decision. The certificates tend to take over 12 months.
Basically, some countries didn't get in quick enough to demand it pass this safety process first before entering the market.
Common sense would say the industry and FSA will strike an agreement to continue for current sellers.
I will have to check the UK FSA site for more for us, although one site states a decision is expected in March which makes me think there is nothing as of yet, but I did find one for Ireland, another EU state, which is allowing sales unless not produced a certain way:
https://www.fsai.ie/faq/cbd_oils_and_hemp_oils_legal_status.html
This is interesting since they are subject to the same EU ruling. They appear to be allowing sellers to enter the market at the current time. That's good news and also suggests it may be more specific methods affected and maybe not all suppliers will be affected.
Useful sites explaining this are:
https://www.hanway.associates/news-opinion/eu-novel-foods-cbd
http://m.digitaljournal.com/pr/4133377
https://www.hamhigh.co.uk/news/new-hampstead-cannabinoid-shop-owner-not-worried-over-possible-eu-reclassification-1-5871953
https://www.blakemorgan.co.uk/news-events/blog/cannabidiol-cbd-products-could-face-enforcement-ac/
Given the size of this market and the potential confusion caused by the DM and Express, which is clearly part of their anti EU agenda, we will hopefully see some clarification by other sources. In the case of health matters the NHS have sometimes had to post their own article on NHS Choices to prevent public confusion.
It's worth noting the same is quoted as happening with krill oil and chic seeds. If there were no supply issues with those it would make sense there will be none with CBD oil too other than perhaps new market entrants having to wait or use existing approved methods only until the classification is complete.
Knowing it's getting popular for anxiety & depression and some on here use it thought it worth putting this out there just in case you come across it in the scaremongering media.
I get emails from a natural health mag I once signed up to and today there was a report about CBD oils being seized from the shelves as it has been banned in the EU. I noticed the source was the Daily Mail so Google a few variations of to see what more credible media sources said. I could only find another article by the Express...who are as bad as the DM.
You may see this today:
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6641929/Watchdogs-plan-ban-popular-CBD-cannabis-oil-despite-experts-claiming-eases-anxiety.html
https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1079800/brexit-news-CBD-oil-EU-food-regulations-european-commission-food-standards-agency
But it's scaremongering nonsense. Supplies are NOT being pulled from shelves by local Trading Standards offices. This was an instant red flag to me since product recalls are fairly common and CBD oil is a mainstream product now that is available in larger stores and chains as opposed to the small niche shops it started in.
I also can't find a reference to this activity and the FSA are still showing the product as legally available for sale.
What it appears to be about is that several EU countries, including ours, have pursued placing CBD oil on the Novel Foods register. This means it now has to be tested & proven to be safe/not detrimental. It is not a test of efficiency, purely health safety. This register covers new foods to the market not previously consumed in EU states (whether a main food or ingredient) prior to May 1997.
Unfortunately it is unknown whether sale will be allowed to continue until they obtain Novel Foods status. The industry is arranging all this and discussing this matter with the FSA but so far there is no decision. The certificates tend to take over 12 months.
Basically, some countries didn't get in quick enough to demand it pass this safety process first before entering the market.
Common sense would say the industry and FSA will strike an agreement to continue for current sellers.
I will have to check the UK FSA site for more for us, although one site states a decision is expected in March which makes me think there is nothing as of yet, but I did find one for Ireland, another EU state, which is allowing sales unless not produced a certain way:
https://www.fsai.ie/faq/cbd_oils_and_hemp_oils_legal_status.html
This is interesting since they are subject to the same EU ruling. They appear to be allowing sellers to enter the market at the current time. That's good news and also suggests it may be more specific methods affected and maybe not all suppliers will be affected.
Useful sites explaining this are:
https://www.hanway.associates/news-opinion/eu-novel-foods-cbd
http://m.digitaljournal.com/pr/4133377
https://www.hamhigh.co.uk/news/new-hampstead-cannabinoid-shop-owner-not-worried-over-possible-eu-reclassification-1-5871953
https://www.blakemorgan.co.uk/news-events/blog/cannabidiol-cbd-products-could-face-enforcement-ac/
Given the size of this market and the potential confusion caused by the DM and Express, which is clearly part of their anti EU agenda, we will hopefully see some clarification by other sources. In the case of health matters the NHS have sometimes had to post their own article on NHS Choices to prevent public confusion.
It's worth noting the same is quoted as happening with krill oil and chic seeds. If there were no supply issues with those it would make sense there will be none with CBD oil too other than perhaps new market entrants having to wait or use existing approved methods only until the classification is complete.
Knowing it's getting popular for anxiety & depression and some on here use it thought it worth putting this out there just in case you come across it in the scaremongering media.