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“A moment to celebrate”: ACI submits novel food application

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The deadline for novel food applications is 31 March, 2021

The Association for the Cannabinoid Industry (ACI) has submitted its novel food application, in what it has described as a “pivotal milestone” for the sector.

The ACI submitted its application to the Food Standards Agency (FSA) on behalf of the members of its CBD Safety Study Consortium on Tuesday 16 February. 

This submission is the culmination of months of work from the ACI and its members and has been described as a “pivotal milestone” for the ACI and a “moment to celebrate” for the UK CBD industry. 

In February 2019, CBD was classified by the European Food Standards Agency (EFSA) as a ‘novel food’, meaning that safety studies are required for CBD products to ensure they are safe for human consumption. 

In February 2020, the FSA set a deadline of March 31, 2021 for the industry to respond to the EFSA’s classification. 

On this date, all CBD companies wishing to stay in the UK market need to have their application validated by the FSA, or face their products being removed from shelves. 

In response to the deadline, the ACI partnered with Advanced Development and Safety Laboratory (ADSL), to announce the launch of a landmark study in September 202, with a consortium of CBD companies committed to building a sustainable, safe and fully compliant industry in the UK.

This aim of the study was to assist its members in getting validated novel foods applications for their products by addressing the existing gaps in data identified by the CoT, while also generating the safety information mandated by the FSA’s novel foods application process. 

Dr Paul Duffy, toxicology associate, ACI commented: “The FSA have always had an ethical responsibility to gain evidence to prove that CBD is safe for human consumption. With the submission of the ACI and ADSL CBD consortium safety study we are well on the way to providing them this evidence.”

ADSL has been proud to support the ACI and its committed members in a groundbreaking submission,” added Mark Bowes-Cavanagh, CEO, Advanced Development & Safety Laboratories (ADSL). 

“It is a very exciting sector who are committed to ensuring that their products are not only safe but also legally compliant and I look forward to the growth and awareness these applications will deliver to the consumer.” 

No other country has provided the clear regulatory framework for compliance that exists in the UK, and data being generated through this process will be useful to meet demands from US and EU regulatory authorities, further supporting the industry globally. 

In a statement released on Tuesday, the ACI said this makes the UK  a “global leader in cannabinoid regulation” and is a “moment to celebrate”.

“I am delighted to submit these dossiers on behalf of the ACI-ADSL CBD safety consortium and support an industry on the cusp of transitioning from a grey area to a fully legally compliant market,” said Dr Parveen Bhatarah, regulatory and compliance associate, ACI who led the collective effort.

“Well done to our consortium members who have delivered on the substantial data requirements that were asked of them. 

“We’re very pleased to lead the way to a sustainable cannabinoid industry.”  

However the ACI has faced criticism from others in the sector who have accused it of attempting to “monopolise” the industry and excluding smaller companies who cannot afford the £25,000 a year membership fees.

The ACI told Cannabis Health these fees allow it to “hire the best people” in order to engage with those in the scientific and regulatory sectors level, but admitted that the costs and the novel food process itself was “out of reach” for many companies.

Sarah Sinclair is an award-winning freelance journalist covering health, drug policy and social affairs. She is one of the few UK reporters specialising in medical cannabis policy and as the former editor of Cannabis Health has covered developments in the European cannabis sector extensively, with a focus on patients and consumers. She continues to report on cannabis-related health and policy for Forbes, Cannabis Health and Business of Cannabis and has written for The i Paper, Byline Times, The Lead, Positive News, Leafie & others. Sarah has an NCTJ accreditation and an MA in Journalism from the University of Sunderland and has completed additional specialist training through the Medical Cannabis Clinicians Society in the UK. She has spoken at leading industry events such as Cannabis Europa.

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