EU and UK Move Closer to First CBD Novel Food Authorisations

Recent positive safety assessments by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) mark an important milestone in defining the conditions under which cannabidiol (CBD) could become authorised as a novel food in the EU and UK in the near future.

On 18 September 2026, EFSA published its first positive opinion on a CBD novel food application submitted under proprietary data protection. EFSA concluded that synthetic CBD is safe for adult use in food supplements at a maximum intake of 2 mg/day. However, safety could not be established for individuals under 25 years of age, pregnant or lactating women, or people taking certain medications. The opinion follows EFSA’s updated general statement on CBD safety published in February 2026, which identified the same 2 mg/day as a provisional safe intake for adults consuming food supplements with CBD purity ≥ 98%.

In the UK, the FSA has also reached positive conclusions and consulted its Board on recommendations related to three high-purity CBD novel food applications (RP7, RP350 and RP427) supporting a higher maximum intake for adults of 10 mg/day. The FSA plans to now forward its recommendations, including proposed warning statements for vulnerable population groups and additional control options, to ministers in England and Wales for their final consideration.

It now remains to be seen whether and when, following these positive EFSA and FSA safety assessments, final CBD authorisations could be granted by the European Commission and/or ministers of England and Wales.