The European Industrial Hemp Association (EIHA) has noted an important development for the hemp sector: the group of companies coordinated by EIHA has received a draft risk management recommendation from the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) in the context of the authorization assessment for natural cannabidiol (CBD) extracted from hemp for use as a food supplement ingredient.
This follows the positive risk assessment on the safety of CBD delivered last year, a crucial milestone confirming the safety profile of hemp-derived CBD. With the draft risk management phase now reached, the process moves one step closer to final authorization.
The FSA has now launched a public consultation on the proposed draft recommendations. If confirmed by Ministers following the consultation, this process would pave the way for the first regulated CBD food products in the UK market, establishing a global precedent for regulatory clarity in the sector.
"This is a significant step forward," said Francesco Mirizzi, Managing Director of EIHA. "It is the result of collective effort, scientific rigor, and strategic coordination over several years. We are grateful for the contribution of our members and partners, including the expertise of ChemSafe, as well as the open dialogue with the FSA. However, it is equally important to underline that the consultation period will be key: we will raise a number of points to ensure that the final authorization, definition and conditions for CBD novel foods are fit for purpose, viable for businesses, and safe and transparent for consumers."
The application, initiated by EIHA projects GmbH, represents a regulatory breakthrough for the global hemp sector. If approved, the UK would become the first country in the world to establish a regulated pathway for CBD as a food supplement - providing much-needed legal certainty and a basis for sustainable market growth.
Daniel Kruse, President of EIHA and CEO of EIHA projects GmbH, commented: "Years of coordinated investment and research have brought us here. Achieving the safety assessment and now advancing into the risk management phase shows that cooperation works. At the same time, the coming months will be crucial: the details matter, and we must make sure this framework can truly support both industry and consumers."
The FSA preliminary version includes an Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) for CBD of 10 mg/kg body weight, which will be indicated on product labels. A 12-week public consultation is now open, after which the Ministerial decision will be made. During this period, EIHA and its members will actively contribute to refining the recommendations to ensure clarity, proportionality, and long-term viability.
EIHA also hopes that the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) will take note of the constructive approach in the UK and carefully consider the parallel application under review in the EU.
For more information:
European Industrial Hemp Association
[email protected]
eiha.org/
