It appears the long-running and controversial UK CBD novel foods application process is finally gaining momentum. Several major companies announced that they have progressed to the risk assessment phase.
The Food Standards Agency has approved five applications since January. That’s nearly two times the total number that will be granted in the entire year 2024.
The FSA has removed 102 items from its public list as some companies have moved forward with this process.
The FSA may have stated that affected companies were notified but it’s understood the reason for their removal remains a mystery.
What has happened?
Since the beginning of 2025, the FSA (Food Standard Scotland), and the FSA have published five new safety assessments on CBD novel food application.
Pureis and Cannaray, the subsidiaries of Chanelle McCoy, received approval for safety in April, followed by three other approvals.
The European Industrial Hemp Association, RP, submitted the first application for a consortium in September.
Cannaray also received its first positive risk assessment ever for an isolated CBD application. Both can move to the next phase of authorisation: risk management.
Brains Bioceutical confirmed in January 2025 that the FSA had approved its CBD isolate.
Mile High Labs received an approval for the dossier of its cannabinoid products and ingredients.
The FSA published three more safety assessments a month later. These were for the US retailer cbdMD and UK suppliers TTS Pharma and Bridge Farm Group.
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- Chanelle McCoy / Pureis
- RP07
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- TTS Pharma
- RP521
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All of the new applications approved adhere to the controversial accepted daily intake (ADI), which is 10mg. This is despite the fact that some applications originally proposed and called for a higher ADI.
Three applications, RP11, RP349 and RP793, initially asked for a higher ADI. (35 mg/day each, followed by 35 mg/day then 24 mg/day respectively). However, cbdMD is the only application where an ADI 24 mg/day has been formally rejected.
The industry has criticized the cap as being too low, claiming that it is not high enough for CBD benefits to be experienced.
The FSA appears to be enforcing the ADI as a strict limit, given that this ADI has been used in all applications that have passed the safety assessment.
Cannabis Trades Association criticised FSA’s rigid application of the ADI. The CTA argued that this limit was being applied as a law cap and not advisory guidance.
Moreover, the claim is that regulatory agencies are applying a blanket ADI (Adequate Dosage Indication) to all CBD-based products despite data from toxicology showing distinct differences between full-spectrum, isolates and distillates.
Updates to the public list
Meanwhile, the ‘public list’ of CBD products which are allowed to remain on the market before receiving full validation from the FSA has seen a major cull.
The list was reduced to 102 items, which means that they no longer need approval. They should also be taken off the market.
The FSA has not provided a complete explanation for some of the products that were removed.
Below is a full list of updates made to the FSA public list.
- Excite for life: 20 product names changed from ‘4′ to ‘for’
- Charlotte’s Web and Dushey Medical: Four products removed
- Charlotte’s Web and Savage Cabbage: 54 items removed
- The CROP England website has 26 new products, ranging from RP427 up to RP438
- Infinity CBD: All 35 chocolate products altered name
- Naturecan: 1 product reinstated
- Six Pure Life Naturals products have been removed
- RP70 16 removed products
- The RP85 product line has been reduced to 9 items
- RP126/127/91: 7 products reinstated
- RP242 – 13 Products Removed
- RP225 and RP238: Incorrectly joint RP number with RP427 – removed from 11 product listings
- Changes in 134 product statuses to Validated