With the number of people who use UK CBD products having more than doubled in the last year, it’s clear that this natural remedy is gaining popularity amongst consumers. It’s widely used to ease anxiety, insomnia and to relieve pain caused by conditions such as psoriasis and eczema.
CBD is a cannabinoid found in the cannabis plant and must have minimal traces of Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) to be legal in the UK. It can be taken as a capsule, oil or e-liquid and is commonly used as a sleep aid, anti-inflamatory and to reduce anxiety and depression. It is also believed to help with the symptoms of chronic pain, including headaches and nausea, and to improve mood and mental health.
The choice of UK CBD products has exploded, with a wide range now available in high street stores and online. Products include oils to be dropped under the tongue, oil-based muscle gels and sprays. There are even CBD infused beer, sweets and hummus. Many of these products can be bought from reputable high street retailers such as Holland & Barrett or Boots.
However, not all UK CBD products are of equal quality. Some are of unknown origin and some may contain toxins such as heavy metals or mycotoxins, which are poisonous to humans. In addition, some products have been found to contain traces of THC, which is psychoactive and illegal in the UK.
UK CBD is regulated and, for example, any product that contains more than 0.2% THC must be labelled as ‘cannabis’ or ‘hemp’ and sold under the Cannabis Act. This has led to some confusion about what can be labelled as UK CBD as some producers claim their products are made from the hemp plant, which is not a legal term in the UK, when in fact they are derived from the cannabis Sativa L or marijuana plants which are classed as controlled substances in the UK.
For these reasons, the UK CBD industry has been recalibrating in 2021 to ensure that all products are correctly classified and legally marketed. This has resulted in a transitional period for CBD products, which means that new consumable CBD products cannot be launched in the UK without having had their Novel Food Application fully authorised – a process that can take up to a year. Products that are already on the market that are linked to a validated Novel Food Application (like KLORIS) are able to remain for sale while the authorisation process is underway.
The FSA has also published updated guidelines for the marketing of all CBD foods and food supplements. These include an explanation of what can be claimed on packaging and a requirement that all products have a Novel Food Number (NFN) to identify them. NFNs are assigned to foods that were not consumed by humans before 1997 and are required to undergo detailed safety testing and labelling. This is the category that CBD oil falls under, which is why at V&YOU we are proud to have our NFN – KLORIS – displayed on our products. UK CBD