The Food Standards Agency views CBD as a ‘novel food’ needing approval

Trading Standards has been instructed to pull items from shops for up to 18 months

CDB oil is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid, hailed for its apparent ability to help treat muscle pains and mental illnesses

British watchdogs are planning to ban sales of popular cannabinoid supplement CBD oil.

CBD sales have rocketed in Britain over the past few years, with recent reports indicating that the global CBD market could grow by up to 700% by 2020, with a potential value of $2.1 billion (£1.6 billion).

Over 300,000 people now regularly use CBD in the UK.

Despite CBD’s overwhelming popularity, a fresh blow has been dealt to one of Britain’s fastest growing markets.

British food watchdogs have decided to reclassify cannabidiol (CBD) as a “novel food,” meaning it will now need to go through an arduous approval process.

Local council trading standard officers will be asked by Britain’s Food Standards Agency (FSA) to remove CBD products from shops until the approval process is finished.

Reports imply this process could take up to 18 months.

The proposed new system could cripple local retailers of CBD oil, as they would be mandated to show that CBD products, are safe and indeed have the medicinal effect advertised by companies and retailers.

Reclassification could be financial suicide for producers of CBD products, dealing a heavy blow to the established and emerging legal cannabis/hemp farms which are cropping up to meet growing demand.

“Cannabidiol oil has direct effects on the endocannabinoid system in the brain, enhancing the effects of other brain chemicals to reduce pain perception, relieve anxiety and stress, improve sleep and lift the mood.”

– Dr Sarah Brewer, medical director of CBD oil producer Healthspan

The Cannabis Trades Association (CTA) yesterday warned producers in a statement: “Trading Standards have rights to enter your premises and inspect stock to determine its novel status. “This is your industry, you need to protect it. You have to help us keep this industry alive. It is going to die if you do nothing.”