EU Food Watchdog Backs CBD Product for First Time

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has issued its first positive opinion on the use of cannabidiol (CBD) in food. The assessment covers a synthetically produced CBD oil with almost no THC made by Irish company Chanelle McCoy.

According to Euractiv, EFSA concluded that the supplement is safe for adults over 25, excluding pregnant and breastfeeding women, at doses of up to 2 mg per day.

Its positive opinion paves the way for the European Commission to authorize the product under the Novel Foods Regulation. The Commission may now draft a proposal to be put to a vote by EU member states.

Several EU countries have meanwhile imposed restrictions on CBD products, which have flourished in an unregulated gray market. France notably introduced a strict ban earlier this year.

In the United Kingdom, the Food Standards Agency has issued positive assessments for the country’s first three CBD novel food applications, including one from Chanelle McCoy, although the final decision rests with the government. The UK regulator accepted a considerably higher daily intake of 10 mg, compared with EFSA’s 2 mg.

London is expected to adopt EU food legislation as part of its alignment with Brussels under a sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement expected to take effect in mid-2027.

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