The United Kingdom’s Food Standards Agency (FSA) is reportedly set to recommend that ministers approve products containing cannabidiol (CBD). FSA’s recommendation is to cap the amount of CBD in such products and require warning labels, among other requirements.

“If ministers give the go-ahead, the approved CBD ingredients could be used in everything from oils and capsules to drinks and sweets. The FSA is preparing to recommend that ministers approve three CBD “novel foods”, which would provide full legal authorisation for products made with those ingredients to be sold across Britain.” reported Glasgow Live.

“It comes with a tight set of conditions, including labels that set out a daily limit and who should avoid the products. Shoppers would also see warnings aimed at under-18s, pregnant and breastfeeding women, and people who are immunosuppressed or on medication, as the watchdog looks to end the long-running limbo around CBD on the high street.” the outlet also reported.

As in other major markets, CBD products have grown in popularity and availability across the United Kingdom. However, CBD products are often unregulated, and depending on where and how they were created, consumption of them could lead to consumers experiencing issues for various reasons. Furthermore, the actual amount of CBD in some of the products may be completely different than what is listed on the packaging.

The UK Food Standards Agency is recommending that the daily amount of CBD intake should be capped at 10 mg, and that all approved CBD products sold in the UK should have the message “The maximum acceptable daily intake (ADI) of CBD for adults is 10 mg. Do not consume more than a single 10 mg CBD product per day to avoid exceeding the ADI” on the label.

“Technical requirements including heavy metals and stability data remain the responsibility of food businesses under existing food law.” the FSA states on its website. “The FSA does not propose changes in these areas, as this would duplicate existing legal requirements that are sufficient for controlling other contaminants.”

“The FSA’s recommendation is to retain the wording ‘not suitable for under 18s’, as it is an established and widely used regulatory phrase. At this stage, there is insufficient evidence to support more restrictive or prescriptive wording.” the FSA added. “The FSA will explore voluntary monitoring schemes with industry and retailers to assess whether current measures are effective. This includes supporting age-verification practices alongside monitoring market behaviours to inform any future policy decisions.”

According to a market analysis by Vantage Market Research, the value of the United Kingdom’s emerging cannabidiol (CBD) industry is projected to reach over $5 billion by 2032. The analysis valued the UK’s CBD industry at $1.355 billion in 2023.