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The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has discussed progressions with the UK’s CBD Novel Foods application process in its recent meeting.
The deadline for receipt of Novel Foods applications for CBD food extracts was 31 March 2021. Whilst the FSA list of CBD products permitted for sale to consumers is still to be published, the organisation has updated on the status of applications.
The report highlights that 89 applications are currently in the validation phase of the application progress stage.
The FSA has seen a large volume of activity relating to the Novel Foods applications. From the start of 2021, a total of 1,423 contacts made to the application service with the meeting’s report stating that “a total of 396 contacts were considered incomplete and could not be progressed as applications; however, each of these contacts still had to be handled and processed as part of the initial receipt stage.”
Read more: FSA permitted CBD products list to be published imminently
By January 2022, 418 application were live as applications that did not pass validation were filtered out of the process.
The volume of these applications are having a knock-on effect on other non-CBD-related applications: “…the surge in CBD applications created significant resourcing demands, impacting on the progression of non-CBD applications. As we move into 2022, the impact will soften as unsuitable applications are removed from the system and process.”
The report gives a current snapshot of applications, stating that: “There are currently 329 applications at validation stage. Of these, 191 relate to ongoing CBD applications that are currently being assessed by SERD [Science, Evidence and Research Directorate] for suitability.
“At the validation stage, 102 CBD applications and 18 non-CBD applications are currently paused awaiting further information from the applicant. These applications cannot be progressed further until the applicant has responded with the requested application.”
Read more: Novel Foods application for exclusive CBD extract accepted by FSA
The meeting confirmed that: “102 CBD applications and 18 non-CBD applications are currently paused awaiting further information from the applicant. These applications cannot be progressed further until the applicant has responded with the requested application.”
Brains Bioceutical, a plant-based pharmaceutical company, recently announced its validation ahead of embarking on a new trial that will see its products used as a potential treatment for opioid addiction.
Another recent announcement came from Australia-based medical cannabis and hemp company, Bod, which confirmed its dossier submitted has been validated to progress to receive a registration for the company’s exclusive CBD extract as a novel food.
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