NEWS
EU: Hemp-derived CBD products not ‘novel foods,’ German government says
The German federal government has agreed that CBD products derived from hemp are not ‘novel’
It has sided with the European Industrial Hemp Association (EIHA) against the Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL).
EIHA president Daniel Kruse said:
“Hemp food products made from traditionally produced extracts with the natural full spectrum of the cannabinoids contained in the hemp plant are not novel foods.
“For the German hemp food industry, this statement by the government and the ministry is an important milestone.”
Germany looked set to become the first EU country to enforce novel foods regulations for CBD products in November.
The Dusseldorf Administrative Court emphasised that although the hemp plant is not novel, current popular products that are derived from it can be.
This latest decision could be a milestone for Europe’s burgeoning CBD industry, as more member nations may follow suit.
The term novel food defines foods that do not have a significant history of consumption in the EU prior to May 1997.
Novel foods require authorisation before they go to market to ensure that they are safe for consumers, properly labelled and in no way nutritionally harmful.
CBD was added to the Novel Food Catalogue by the European Commission (EC) in January 2019.
UK CBD companies have until March 31 2021 to submit novel food applications for their products.
Photo by Christian Wiediger on Unsplash
