FSA Opens Consultation on the First UK-Authorised CBD Food Products
The UK’s CBD sector has reached an important milestone. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has launched a public consultation, running until 20 November 2025, on proposals to authorise the country’s first CBD food products. If approved, this will mark the first time CBD food items have been legally authorised for sale in the UK under the novel foods regime.
What is Being Proposed?
The consultation covers a set of applications that have passed the FSA’s initial safety assessment. These products could become the first officially authorised CBD foods on the UK market, provided they meet strict safety and labelling requirements.
While the FSA has allowed CBD products to remain on sale pending risk assessment, formal authorisation would give certain products full legal clarity. This includes requirements for:
Accurate labelling of CBD content
Compliance with the FSA’s provisional Acceptable Daily Intake of 10 mg of CBD per day
Demonstration that THC and other controlled cannabinoids remain below legal thresholds
This move is designed to provide assurance to consumers, support enforcement against non-compliant products, and give responsible businesses a pathway to stability.
What the Consultation Covers
The FSA consultation focuses on three applications (RP07, RP350 and RP427) that have successfully passed initial safety assessments. The agency is consulting on its draft recommendations to Ministers in England and Wales to authorise these products, provided they meet clear labelling and safety standards.
If approved, these products would become the first legally authorised CBD foods in Great Britain, providing clarity for both industry and consumers.
The FSA’s draft recommendations include labelling requirements to ensure safe use, including warnings that products are:
Not suitable for persons under the age of 18
Not suitable during pregnancy, breastfeeding or for those trying to conceive
Not suitable for people taking medication or who are immunosuppressed, unless they first consult a healthcare professional
As Thomas Vincent of the FSA states:
“With these recommendations, we are moving closer to a regulated market for CBD which will support growth in the industry while maintaining high safety standards.”
Why This Matters for the CBD Sector
The UK has one of the largest CBD markets in Europe, yet it has operated in a grey area since novel food rules were applied in 2020. Many products remain on the FSA’s “Public List” awaiting full assessment, creating uncertainty for producers, retailers and consumers alike.
Authorisation of the first CBD food products will:
Create confidence for consumers, who will know which products have been rigorously assessed for safety
Provide a clear framework for businesses that invest in compliance
Allow regulators to remove unsafe or unregulated items from the market
Send a signal to investors and international partners that the UK is serious about regulating the CBD sector fairly
What About Whole-Plant Hemp Extracts?
It is important to note that much of the current debate in the UK revolves around the distinction between CBD isolates and whole-plant hemp extracts. Stakeholders, including the British Hemp Alliance, have consistently argued that traditional hemp extracts produced via cold-press or CO₂ extraction should not be regulated in the same way as highly processed isolates, especially given their long history of safe use.
The consultation currently focuses on isolate-based products that have passed safety checks. However, the outcome of this process could set an important precedent for how whole-plant oils are treated in future.
A Step Forward, but More Work to Do
The FSA consultation represents progress, but challenges remain. Farmers and small businesses continue to face barriers, from restrictive hemp licensing rules to the cost of navigating novel food regulations. Without broader reform, there is a risk that only large corporations will have the resources to bring CBD food products to market.
That is why the British Hemp Alliance will continue to push for:
A fair regulatory distinction between isolates and traditional hemp extracts
Licensing reform to allow British farmers to produce hemp for CBD markets, not just fibre and seed
Support for SMEs to participate in this growing industry
How to Get Involved
The consultation is open until 20 November 2025. Anyone with an interest in the future of CBD in the UK, from consumers to businesses and advocacy groups, is encouraged to contribute.
You can read more about the consultation and submit your views on the FSA website.
Building a Sustainable UK CBD Industry
This consultation could pave the way for a safer, more transparent and more sustainable CBD market in the UK. It is a sign that regulation is finally catching up with consumer demand and industry innovation.
However, the work does not stop here. To truly unlock the potential of hemp and CBD, we need policies that support farmers, respect the difference between natural extracts and isolates, and build a level playing field for businesses of all sizes.
The British Hemp Alliance will continue to work towards that goal.
