Regulatory briefing
Our regulatory briefings section delivers current and up-to-date legal and regulatory news relating to all aspects of the CBD industry. It covers individual regulation changes across the world, policy and governmental changes that impact the industry and technological and medical innovations that affect how the industry is regulated, to name a few.
South Africa’s new national cannabis plan could spark regional change
Written by CBD-Intel || 30th April 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
South Africa releases the National Cannabis Master Plan, which will not only boost and uplift the southern Africa cannabis industry, but will set a regional precedent for the growth of a legal cannabis market in the area ...
Opposition parties put forward proposals for legalisation of cannabis in Poland
Written by CBD-Intel || 29th April 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
Poland’s Parliamentary Team for the Legalisation of Marijuana has submitted a package of three draft bills to the speaker of parliament’s lower chamber, following a public consultation on the proposals ...
UK FSA releases initial validated novel food application list
Written by Freddie Dawson || 23rd April 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
The long-anticipated UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) initial list of products supported by a validated CBD novel food application has been released ...
A new head honcho for CBD policy – but who will US FDA pick for this vital role?
Written by CBD-Intel || 19th April 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
A new deputy commissioner at the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will likely be the single person with the most influence on the path to market for CBD in the US ...
US Customs stands accused of seizing legal hemp – and farm machinery
Written by Anthony Traurig || 16th April 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency is wrongly seizing legal hemp and hemp-related shipments – such as farm equipment that it claims constitutes drug paraphernalia – according to two recently-filed lawsuits ...
New Senate request could hold Mexican legalisation back until at least September
Written by CBD-Intel || 15th April 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
Mexico’s Senate is poised to request extra time to approve legislation that would legalise cannabis in the country, prolonging debate over the highly anticipated bill until September ...
Details of China’s proposed ban on CBD in cosmetics still unclear
Written by CBD-Intel || 14th April 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
Suggestions that a Chinese ban on the use of CBD in cosmetics that would essentially shut down the domestic CBD market, blocking imports and cross-border online sales, appear to be premature ...
‘Cautious’ Idaho is ready at last to become the 50th state to legalise industrial hemp
Written by CBD-Intel || 13th April 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
It’s been a long process getting there, but the last US state to legalise industrial hemp finally has a bill headed to the governor’s desk and farmers poised to plant the crop ...
A mixed bag: reactions to the USDA’s final hemp rule requirements
Written by CBD-Intel || 9th April 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
States continue to update their hemp production plans to match US Department of Agriculture (USDA) final rule requirements, with Michigan being one of the latest ...
Germany’s highest court leaves legality of hemp flowers open to interpretation
Written by CBD-Intel || 6th April 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
Germany’s highest civil and criminal court has ruled that low-THC industrial hemp flowers may be considered a narcotic – but that they can be legally sold to German consumers if there is no risk of intoxication ...
US FDA: You can’t hide health claims for CBD behind other active ingredients
Written by Freddie Dawson || 31st March 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has assessed a combined health claim for the first time and denounced the practice of promoting CBD on a product making qualified health claims based on other ingredients ...
Could Oregon state bill show a way out of US cannabis and CBD banking troubles?
Written by Daniel Mollenkamp || 30th March 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
An Oregon senator believes he has found a solution to the cannabis banking crisis in the state, and perhaps set a useful standard for others across the US ...
US FDA warns CBD firms over inadequate testing, labelling and health claims
Written by Freddie Dawson || 29th March 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has told two CBD companies they fell short of current good manufacturing practice (CGMP) regulations for finished pharmaceuticals and ordered them to undertake proper testing ...
UK Food Standards Agency relaxes the rules slightly on novel food submissions
Written by Lorraine Mullaney || 15th March 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
Companies now only to have submitted an application to the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) in order for their edible CBD products to stay on the market after 1st April ...
Anxiety in Northern Ireland, UK’s EU gateway, as novel food deadline looms
Written by CBD-Intel || 11th March 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
As the UK’s deadline for novel food applications looms, many firms are upbeat about the prospects for CBD businesses in Northern Ireland, but almost all those CBD-Intel spoke to expressed frustration at a lack of clarity ...
Armenia looks to hemp legalisation as part of a route out of national crisis
Written by CBD-Intel || 10th March 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
Crisis-hit Armenia intends to legalise and regulate the production of hemp as a part of a package of economic measures to alleviate issues arising from the military conflict with Azerbaijan over the Nagorno-Karabakh region ...
UK FSA picks up the pace with at least one novel food application validated
Written by Freddie Dawson || 5th March 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) is moving forward at pace with at least one CBD novel food application having been validated ...
‘Outdated’ Japanese import and growing restrictions may get even tougher
Written by CBD-Intel || 4th March 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
Tough Japanese laws on the import of CBD products and the cultivation of industrial hemp are becoming more challenging for the industry – and even stricter regulations may be on the way ...
US state regulators’ association calls for joined-up federal thinking on cannabis
Written by Lorraine Mullaney || 24th February 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
A US association of cannabis regulators has written to Congress urging the modernisation of cannabis policy at federal level ...
Governor’s influence questioned after judge blocks cannabis legalisation
Written by Anthony Traurig || 23rd February 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
The legalisation of recreational cannabis in South Dakota is in doubt, amidst accusations of political interference after a judge appointed by the state governor ruled the voter-approved amendment unconstitutional ...
Will change at the FTC mean a new US approach to enforcement on CBD?
Written by Freddie Dawson || 18th February 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) could take a more discerning approach to enforcement against CBD companies under the new administration in Washington ...
No Home Office change in CBD importation licensing requirements
Written by Freddie Dawson || 12th February 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
Reports that the UK Home Office now requires businesses importing CBD into the UK to have controlled drug licences are untrue, according to the Home Office ...
Is this the year? US cannabis and CBD law reform efforts worth watching in 2021
Written by Anthony Traurig || 11th February 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
The Democratic Party, which now controls Congress and the presidency, has signalled for some time that cannabis reform is one of its top priorities, and the US public supports that reform in unprecedented numbers ...
All the president’s men and women sound a positive note for cannabis
Written by CBD-Intel || 10th February 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
US president Joe Biden’s appointees to a number of influential positions in the new administration give reason for optimism within the hemp and cannabis sector ...
US Small Business Administration claims credit for softening USDA final hemp rule
Written by Freddie Dawson || 1st February 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
The US Small Business Administration (SBA) has highlighted its role in securing changes to the Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s final rule for hemp production ...
German Left and Greens propose rise in THC limit, but without much optimism
Written by CBD-Intel || 28th January 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
Two German parliamentary groups have submitted a joint initiative to remove industrial hemp from the Narcotics Act and raise the THC limit from 0.2% to at least 0.6% ...
European Commission decides CBD from entire plant can be used in cosmetics
Written by Freddie Dawson || 27th January 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
CBD extracted from the whole Cannabis sativa plant will be allowed in cosmetic products in the EU, according to a preliminary conclusion by the European Commission conveyed to CBD-Intel ...
Proposal to legalise low-THC hemp in South Korea submitted to parliament
Written by Marija Obradovic || 22nd January 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
A proposal to legalise low-THC hemp was submitted on 19th January in the Korean parliament, which proposes to exclude synthetic products as well as preparations with THC content up to 0.3% from cannabis ...
Uzbekistan publishes regulations for hemp farming and production
Written by CBD-Intel || 15th January 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
Uzbekistan has published a regulatory framework to implement its legalisation of industrial hemp farming and production passed last year ...
A brighter year ahead on cannabis rules? Our 2021 predictions for US regulation
Written by Anthony Traurig || 13th January 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
CBD-Intel presents some predictions of what regulatory moves could take place around cannabis, hemp and CBD in the US in 2021 ...
Georgia run-off election: it looks like good news for cannabis reform
Written by Freddie Dawson || 6th January 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
Reform of cannabis laws at federal level in the US looks to be a step closer following the likely victory of the Democratic party in run-off elections for both Senate seats in the state of Georgia ...
State officials on both sides as South Dakota goes to court over legalisation
Written by Anthony Traurig || 5th January 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
South Dakota’s governor has put public cash behind a legal challenge to a move – backed by a majority of voters – to legalise recreational cannabis in the US state. But can the lawsuit overturn the vote? ...
New York State’s proposed regulations could set the hemp standard for others
Written by CBD-Intel || 4th January 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
Further CBD regulations in the US could be based on rules proposed in the state of New York, it has been suggested – especially crucial definitions for some key terms ...
A world of change – but don’t expect 2021 to deliver very much new regulation
Written by CBD-Intel || 31st December 2020 || Regulatory briefing |
Multiple jurisdictions are planning significant legislation on both CBD and hemp-related matters, but it seems regulation in 2021 could be defined as much by what doesn’t happen as by the progress made ...
Continuing failure to pass US federal hemp regulation leaves CBD in a tangle
Written by CBD-Intel || 29th December 2020 || Regulatory briefing |
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is still working on a plan to standardise a baseline level of regulation for CBD in dietary supplements, food and drinks – but many in the industry and at state level...
The long wait goes on for a successful European novel food application
Written by Anthony Traurig || 28th December 2020 || Regulatory briefing |
Officials from the European Commission (EC) met with CBD-Intel to discuss the status of novel food applications in light of the ruling in the Kanavape case ...
Unfounded claims on cancer and COVID attract warning letters from US FDA
Written by Barnaby Page || 23rd December 2020 || Regulatory briefing |
Claims that CBD could help shrink tumours were among those censured by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in its latest round of warning letters to the industry ...
Isle of Man to invite applications to grow hemp, but won’t license extraction – yet
Written by Freddie Dawson || 22nd December 2020 || Regulatory briefing |
The Isle of Man is set to begin assessing hemp production applications as early as February in order to allow initial crops to be grown in 2021 – though no cannabinoids will be extracted yet ...
Cannabis plant considered ‘a national security threat’ in Russia
Written by CBD-Intel || 18th December 2020 || Regulatory briefing |
Cannabis legalisation is so far away in Russia that the plant is now considered a national security threat, according to provisions of the new state strategy for Anti-Drug...
Finance minister sets Zimbabwe an ambitious target for cannabis income
Written by CBD-Intel || 17th December 2020 || Regulatory briefing |
Zimbabwe’s minister of finance and economic development, Mthuli Ncube, has proposed wide-ranging and hugely ambitious cannabis levies in the country, starting next year ...
Italian Customs Agency proposes taking hemp flower sales into its monopoly
Written by CBD-Intel || 17th December 2020 || Regulatory briefing |
The Italian Customs Agency is trying to widen its jurisdiction by proposing including the sale of CBD hemp flowers within the state monopoly. Others have similar ideas ...
Avazo has its collar felt by the FDA/FTC over ‘unsubstantiated COVID-19 claims’
Written by Freddie Dawson || 14th December 2020 || Regulatory briefing |
Another company has been warned by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to stop claiming CBD can cure or mitigate the symptoms of COVID-19 ...
EU Parliament votes to change industrial hemp THC limit from 0.2% to 0.3%
Written by CBD-Intel || 11th December 2020 || Regulatory briefing |
The European Parliament will have a united position on hemp-related issues during the ongoing tripartite negotiations, which must be concluded by the end of March ...
Montana’s ballot initiative to legalise cannabis faces court challenge
Written by Anthony Traurig || 9th December 2020 || Regulatory briefing |
A move to legalise cannabis in the US state of Montana, backed by a substantial majority in last month’s ballot, is under threat from a legal bid to block it ...
EC to review novel food applications following change of heart on CBD
Written by Freddie Dawson || 4th December 2020 || Regulatory briefing |
The European Commission (EC) will start to review novel food applications after reversing its opinion on the narcotic status of CBD, the EC has confirmed to CBD-Intel ...
Mixed feelings over results of UN vote on cannabis-related proposals
Written by CBD-Intel || 4th December 2020 || Regulatory briefing |
The United Nations (UN) vote on various cannabis related proposals has largely been seen as a historic moment symbolically but one that can only be considered a tiny first step in practical terms ...
UN commission votes to deschedule cannabis but CBD measure fails
Written by Freddie Dawson || 2nd December 2020 || Regulatory briefing |
One of four proposed changes to the international scheduling of cannabis as well as CBD has been passed by the 53 voting members of the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) ...
Canadian public and industry back plan to free CBD from cannabis regulation
Written by Freddie Dawson || 1st December 2020 || Regulatory briefing |
The results of Canada’s public consultation on health products containing cannabis have been released, showing strong support for allowing the sale of CBD outside the current cannabis restrictions ...