Retailers stocking any products containing cannabis extract cannabidiol (CBD) face the prospect of having them taken off the shelves within a year if they don’t gain regulatory approval.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has said that all CBD products need to be registered by March 2021 or they will be banned, according to the BBC.
While sales of CBD products skyrocketed in the past year, not a single one of the many oils, snacks and drinks have been formerly approved by the FSA, which has prompted health concerns.
The regulatory body has issued new advice on CBD use, saying it should not be used by people also taking other medications.
FSA chief executive Emily Miles said: “The CBD industry must provide more information about the safety and contents of these products to the regulator by March 2021, or the products will be taken off the shelves.”
Interest in CBD products grew last year in a wider consumer trend towards wellness. Many of the products were advertised as being able to treat ailments such as inflammation, arthritis, anxiety and even PTSD.
Retailers such as Holland & Barrett in the UK and department store chain Neiman Marcus in the US both launched own-brand CBD lines last year, while Whole Foods tipped it as one of its biggest food trends.
Consultancy firm the BrightField Group predicted that CBD-infused health and beauty products alone were on track to be a $22bn (£17bn) industry by 2022.
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