FSA Announces New Deadline For CBD Novel Food Applications

CBD Distributors Asked To Provide Details About Products and Manufacturing Practices

Earlier this month, the Food Standards Agency announced that they are providing CBD distributors with a deadline of 31 March 2021 to submit novel food authorisation applications. After this date, only distributors who submitted valid documentation will be able to sell their products online and in stores.

In January of 2019, the FSA (the Central Competent Authority for food safety) added CBD to its novel food catalog. Novel foods, or ingredients, are food elements that do not have a long track record of consumption. According to novel food regulations, these new compounds or foods must be thoroughly investigated by the FSA before they are verified for sale. For more information regarding the CBD novel foods UK policy, click this link to access the food safety agency’s official website.

During this time, the FSA is not requesting a ban on the sale of CBD. While suppliers will still be allowed to provide these cannabinoids products, local authorities can enforce food laws as they see fit. These local agencies will be able to take products off of the shelves if there is evidence of inconsistent labelling of product ingredients or adverse side effects from consumption.

At CBD Guru, we are proud to say that we have been preparing for this moment since CBD was first announced as a novel food ingredient. We welcome regulation from all relevant government agencies, and we are already in the process of completing our application. We look forward to a regulated, well-policed industry, that will bring about greater consumer confidence and a broader acceptance of hemp/CBD products.

CBD Guru’s Novel Food Application Response

In response to this Application Request, our experts are working hard to provide the following:

• Full Toxicology Assessment on All Cannabinoids in the Products at the Appropriate Levels of Exposure
• Complete Package of Genotoxicology Studies*
• Total ADME Assessment at Relevant Levels of Exposure**
• Full Stability Assessment for Raw Materials and Finished Products
• Significant Administrative Data on the Hemp Crop, its Harvesting, Processing, and the Quality Control Steps Undertaken During these Stages
• Detailed Information on Typical CBD Exposure and Usage
• Complete Risk Assessment and Risk Mitigation Plan
• Administrative Submission of Additional Relevant/Supporting Data

Additionally, our Founder Neil Mumby stated the following in regards to the FSA’s request:

“At CBD Guru, we don’t just sit around and wait for novel food regulations to bite us, we have been working with our audited and trusted suppliers for several months on a novel food application.

Without a fully open and auditable supply chain, you can’t get anywhere with this application. CBD Guru has a strong, transparent relationship with our supplier, and we are well on with our submission. We are striving tirelessly to maintain a continuity of supply to our loyal customers and businesses…“

As you can see, we are resolute in our efforts to continue participating in this ever-evolving cannabinoid industry. We are dedicated to providing access to regulated, lab-tested, and efficient cannabidiol, and we are ready to comply fully with any requests from the FSA or other relevant governmental agencies.

FSA CBD Safety Recommendations

While CBD-containing cannabis has displayed a strong safety profile over thousands of years of use, we agree whole-heartedly that the modern market demands a thorough evaluation of any product that is sold for consumption. Our current market faces new challenges when embracing novel products, such as the need for established quality standards, informed use of additional ingredients, the establishment of recommended use guidelines, and more.

Luckily, while we are waiting for the FSA to approve high-quality CBD products, the agency has announced several safety guidelines for over-the-counter cannabidiol use. They are currently recommending that vulnerable groups, such as pregnant women, breastfeeding women, or individuals taking medication, should not consume CBD. Adults with good health are encouraged not to take more than 70mg of CBD per day unless working with a healthcare professional.

For daily use, this 70mg cap is very reasonable. Many users report that they are satisfied with CBD concentrations of 5-20mg, one to three times a day. Taking larger doses to produce a more substantial impact, really is not necessary unless you are working with a qualified healthcare practitioner.

Additionally, the FSA is 100% correct that individuals taking medication should not consume CBD. There are a few well known dangerous interactions with CBD that need to avoid, and there is potential for unknown reactions to occur. To date, research indicates that CBD may inhibit the CYP450 liver enzymes, responsible for the metabolism of several conventional medications. This inhibition can potentially cause hazardous symptoms when taken with specific blood-thinners (warfarin/coumadin), select anti-seizure medications (e.g., clobazam, and or norclobazam), and certain anti-cancer meds (e.g., epipodophyllotoxin derivatives such as etoposide and teniposide).

Always consult a physician before beginning to use any new herbal product.

Verified CBD You Can Trust

We are excited to work hand-in-hand with our government to provide natural cannabinoid products. Just a decade ago, this opportunity was beyond our wildest dreams. As cannabis acceptance sweeps the globe, you can rely on CBD Guru to provide the best CBD products.

We recognise and honour the potential for CBD side effects/interactions, and we seek to educate our consumers about these realities. Our CBD resources even include articles discussing how cannabidiol could potentially contain dangerous unwanted ingredients, and inconsistent labels. With the help of the FSA and other respected CBD brands in the UK, we hope to eradicate this issue entirely.

Our customers deserve the best in natural alternative products. That’s why we provide transparent and accurate third-party lab-test results for all to see. No unnecessary ingredients. No gimmicky products. Just pure, natural, healthy, cannabidiol.

*Genotoxicity studies include in-vitro and in-vivo tests that aim to identify any substance or compound which can create genetic damage, either directly or indirectly.

**Assessment of the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination of a given substance.