The FSA’s list of authorized CBD items marks a major step ahead in CBD food and beverage regulation. There are over 3,500 products on this list as those items have credible applications for authorization with the Food Standards Agency. The FSA will assess the products for safety in the future.
The brands part of the list can access more of the cannabidiol market for some time than before. Why? Because products not on the FSA list will have to be drawn back from the cannabis market, whereas newer items will await validation and authorization. Does the above-mentioned mean that the list contains some of the best CBD food products in the UK? In a sense, yes.
The agency recommends the voluntary removal of unauthorized products from the cannabidiol market. Retailers and brands can anticipate seeing a greater amount of local enforcement as officers can now access the list. Without voluntary removal, accountability sits with local authorities or the retailer, so it is going to be fascinating to see in what way they will use their discretion.
The normalization of cannabidiol by retailers and brands could disrupt the process of managing an extremely unregulated market. There is an abundance of cannabidiol items in the market that the federal government is yet to assess for safety. Cannabidiol is positioned in the market as a health and wellness ingredient. The above-mentioned facts mean that people are getting more comfortable and familiar with the appearance of cannabidiol in everyday items.
Besides food, people have gotten used to seeing cannabidiol in vaping liquids and beauty products. Consumer law keeps brands from making unsubstantiated claims regarding cannabidiol health benefits. However, an unhealthy level of confusion still exists among the industry and customers about cannabidiol’s status.
It appears that several retailers are comfortable with the idea of stocking cannabidiol food items on the main floor of their shops. Retailers should carefully contemplate which products to stock as well as how and where to sell those items. Retailers should also undertake a detailed risk assessment and think about which steps they are capable of taking to deal with any risks.
When a top CPG brand includes a new cannabidiol consumable in its established line-up, it will be a game-changer of a day. Meanwhile, the industry has to start readying for the time the FSA begins to issue authorizations as well as its effect on customer awareness, further regulation and competition.
