After years of regulatory work and safety assessments, the UK’s CBD market is moving closer to official authorisation. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has moved three CBD novel food applications into the final stage of the approval process.
The three applications concern products containing at least 98% CBD. The UK food safety regulator is recommending that ministers in England and Wales authorise the products under specific conditions. The final decision, however, rests with the ministers rather than the FSA.
First official CBD authorisations in sight
The three applications cover synthetic CBD, CBD isolate and CBD isolate derived from hemp (Cannabis sativa).
According to the FSA, all three products have been assessed as safe when used under the proposed conditions. A maximum daily intake of 10 milligrams of CBD is proposed for adults.
The recommendations also include requirements covering labelling, product composition and limits for THC and other controlled cannabinoids.
If ministers approve the recommendations, the three products would become the first CBD novel foods to receive formal authorisation under the UK system. That would mark a significant milestone for the British CBD industry.
Strict rules for labels and consumers
Authorisation would not mean that manufacturers can market CBD products without restrictions. The FSA has proposed a number of conditions governing how the products are sold and labelled.
For example, the recommended maximum daily amount of CBD must be clearly communicated to consumers. Products would also need to carry warnings for groups including people under 18 and those who are pregnant, breastfeeding or trying to become pregnant.
Additional warnings would apply to consumers taking medication.
Health claims will also remain tightly controlled. CBD food products cannot simply be marketed with claims about medical or health benefits unless those claims have been specifically authorised under the applicable UK rules.
A regulatory process that began years ago
CBD was formally classified as a novel food in the UK in January 2019. This means that CBD products intended for consumption require authorisation before they can be legally placed on the market as novel foods.
Since then, the FSA has assessed applications from companies seeking approval for different CBD products.
A public consultation on the first three applications took place in 2025. The FSA received 46 responses from consumers, businesses, industry organisations and local authorities before finalising its recommendations.
The latest step therefore represents the culmination of several years of regulatory work.
The market is not fully regulated yet
Despite the progress, it is important to note that the three products have not yet received final authorisation.
The FSA has submitted its recommendations to ministers, who will make the final decision on whether the products can be authorised and under which conditions.
The wider regulatory picture could also be affected by the UK’s future relationship with the European Union. Discussions surrounding a possible sanitary and phytosanitary agreement could have implications for how novel food authorisations are handled in the future.
What could this mean for CBD businesses?
For the UK CBD industry, the latest development provides a clearer indication of how a fully regulated CBD food market could take shape.
At the same time, companies will still need to wait for the final ministerial decisions and comply with the conditions attached to any authorisation.
If the recommendations are approved, the UK will enter a new phase in its CBD regulation — one that could provide a clearer legal framework for authorised CBD food products after years of uncertainty.
For consumers and businesses alike, the next decision from the UK government will therefore be an important one.
Source: Food Standards Agency (FSA), GOV.UK — “CBD novel food applications: recommendations to ministers on first authorisations”, updated 15 September 2026. FSA / GOV.UK source