Safety Assessment on Cannabidiol (CBD) Used as a Novel Food for Use in Food Supplements (RP354)

An application was submitted to the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Food Standards Scotland (FSS) in February 2021 from Bridge Farm Group (“the applicant”) for the authorisation of cannabidiol (CBD) isolate as a novel food. The novel food is a ≥98% pure form CBD isolate which is intended to be used as a food ingredient in food supplements for adults (excluding pregnant and lactating women, and other specifically identified vulnerable groups, including those taking medication and the immunosuppressed). The novel food was assessed based on the data provided. This review indicated it was appropriate for the provisional acceptable daily intake ADI for 98% or greater CBD to form part of the evidence for this assessment. For CBD a provisional ADI of 10 mg/day for a healthy 70 kg adult has been published by the FSA and was considered in assessing this novel food. The Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes (ACNFP) reviewed the dossier and supplementary information provided by the applicant. The Committee did not consider any potential health benefits or claims arising from consuming the food, as the focus of the novel food assessment is to ensure the food is safe and not putting consumers at a nutritional disadvantage. The FSA and FSS concluded, based on the advice of the ACNFP, that the applicant had provided sufficient information to assure the novel food, CBD isolate, was safe under the proposed conditions of use. The anticipated intake levels and the proposed use in food supplements was not considered to be nutritionally disadvantageous. This safety assessment represents the opinions of the FSA and FSS.