Amazon invites British CBD brands to join UK-only pilot programme
The online retailer famous for its Prime next day delivery options has launched a pilot scheme to allow for the sale of some British CBD brands, for a limited time.
CBD e-liquids, body products and edibles such as gummies and oral drops which are made by UK brands are being added to basket.
Most of the products now for sale on the much loved consumer site are listed as qualifying for next day delivery on Amazon Prime, making CBD far more accessible to many in the UK than before.
The programme, which launched in recent months, works on an ‘invite only’ basis, with the products currently available having been handpicked, The CANNAVIST understands.
The criteria brands must meet is clear.
Products may not include “prohibited health or medicinal claims.”
This includes misleading marketing claims such as Full or Broad Spectrum claims, percentage claims (where it is not clear what ingredient the % refers to); claims relating to CO2 and other extraction methods of cannabinoids.
References to CB1 and CB2 receptors, which make up the Endocannabinoid System, are also prohibited.
The guidelines also insist products will also be removed if there is “any indication on the listing that the product contains any extract of the hemp plant other than the seeds,” one point which may be construed as confusing, given that CBD cannot be extracted from the seeds of the hemp plant.
The Amazon trial is currently only available on the UK website and app, and includes several British brands, including Vitality CBD, Healthspan, fourfive CBD and Nature’s Aid.
In a statement, a spokesperson for Amazon UK told The CANNAVIST:
“We are always seeking to increase the selection we offer our customers and help them find and buy anything online.
“The listing and sale of ingestible hemp products, including lozenges, e-liquids, sprays and oils that contain CBD or other cannabinoids are prohibited on Amazon.co.uk, except for sellers participating in a limited, invite-only pilot. The pilot is currently by invitation-only and is not accepting additional sellers.”
Brands curious about the scheme in other countries can study Amazon’s EU guidelines on hemp and CBD products.
CBD edibles will soon be regulated
CBD-infused food and beverage items, including CBD oils (tinctures) will soon be regulated under the Novel Foods Act, enforced in the UK by the Food Standards Agency.
Manufacturers have until March 31, 2021 to submit a dossier to the FSA to prove the safety of their CBD product, and why it should be allowed to be sold on the market.
Non-compliant products will be illegal and face being removed from the shelves of retailers and online shops on April 1, 2021.
