New CBD advice – confusion rather than clarity?
Len Glenville
Chair, Health Stores UK
The Food Standards Agency's announcement that it was slashing the Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) of CBD from food sevenfold from 70mg to 10mg has caused dismay in the CBD industry, with analysts at The Canna Consultant claiming that the new guidance will do "collateral damage to the whole of the UK CBD industry".
While HFMA said that it was "assessing all elements of this new recommendation" it noted that its members "found themselves yet again managing moving goalposts on CBD" and that the development had "huge implications for the manufacture and retailing of CBD".
The industry is concerned that rather than providing clarity, the FSA's entirely unexpected announcement has created unnecessary confusion. For many consumers, only the headline statement about the sharply reduced ADI is likely to stick in the mind, rather than the important qualifying statement that any health risks are related to lifelong exposure to high CBD intakes, or that the FSA's scientific committee found "no acute safety risk" with consuming more than 10mg of CBD a day.
We understand that some trade bodies are preparing to challenge the FSA over its new guidance, which they will argue is entirely out of step with many other countries. In the meantime, we would point out to heath store owners that the FSA guidance is just that – guidance. Our current understanding is that CBD products that were legally on the market prior to the FSA's updated advice remain so, and there is no requirement in the immediate term to take any action or remove products from sale.
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In the Autumn we launched our brand-new monthly e-newsletter 'Health Store News'. Each edition is packed with industry news, regulatory updates and diary dates for our latest online talks and workshops. Look out for exclusive interviews, guest blogs and video content in the coming months. We hope you're enjoying this new 'one stop shop' news roundup. If there are any subjects you would especially like us to cover, or you'd like to share news about your store, please do get in touch.
Down to business
We're delighted that Health Stores UK's new series of workshops hosted by small business mentor, Dave Christie, is being received so well. The first workshop, on Planning for 2024, was a lively, interactive session looking at all aspects of business planning that offered great tips on proven techniques and practical insights from retailers who joined the discussion on what has worked well for them. The second session focused on how to maximise the opportunities of social media, choose the most effective platforms for your store and not waste time on posts that don't deliver any measurable return. If you missed either session, don't worry, you can view the full-length recordings in the Members' Area of the Health Stores UK website, or read our session summary in the Latest News section.
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