The European Commission is taking two major steps on the CBD reform front

Not all is doom and gloom on the cannabis front in Europe, frustrating bureaucracy, delays and the inevitable court cases notwithstanding.

In fact, this week the European Commission released news on two major developments that are sure to propel the industry regionally. This applies even if further legal action is required in certain jurisdictions. With reforms at the EU level, this creates the opportunity for policy and regulatory changes in individual countries like never before. A very good example of this is the Kanavape case in France, which was challenged at the EU level and which in turn spawned a similar lawsuit in Germany to allow imported hemp products.

The first announcement will absolutely impact hemp production. The second will move the needle in setting EU-wide standards on the cultivation front.

No matter how long and excruciating the wait has been, thanks in part to COVID delays, there is indeed light at the end of this canna tunnel that is not just another train.

Validation of 5 novel food applications

At least five companies in the EU have just received word that their novel food CBD cases have reached the final stages of the novel food process. These companies are located in the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Switzerland, France and a UK company.

The Novel Food Regulation is often misunderstood outside of Europe – and even within its borders there is much confusion. Essentially, this regulation states that a plant that has not been widely grown and not widely cultivated since 1997 must go through a separate compliance process. When applied to cannabis, it broadly means three things – the source of the seed, how it’s grown, and how it’s extracted.

However, the fact that five of these applications have achieved final EU-wide approval is good news for the entire industry. The whole conversation has been delayed over the last two years not only by COVID but also by discussions at EU level as well as internationally on how to proceed with the overall legalization of cannabis.

EC panel votes on THC levels in food

Perhaps the two-year delay on all things cannabis-related, even hemp, is beginning to break the legal and regulatory deadlock at the EC. Maybe it’s the end of COVID, or an understanding, even at this nosebleed level, that reform isn’t going away.

Regardless, the European Commission’s Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed is set to vote again on a proposal that would increase acceptable THC levels in marketable hemp edibles in Europe. This after the decision has now been postponed twice.

Under the proposal, which will be reviewed next Monday, February 28, the level for hemp seed-derived oil will be set at 7.5 mg/kg, while dry hemp foods such as hulled hemp seeds, flour and protein powder will be capped at 3 mg/kg will . Hemp seeds contain almost no THC, but trace amounts are present in the husks.

Towards a consolidated, sensible policy on the EU front?

It’s far too early to celebrate on any front, despite the fact that this month saw regulatory progress on two major topics of the hemp discussion at the regional level. But perhaps it’s not too optimistic to hope that the painfully slow advance is now coming to an end. Additionally, the temperature has meanwhile moved towards cannabis reform in general, and in quite a big and significant way.

These are indeed major decisions and steps to be accomplished. For that reason, there’s reason to cheer, even if the details are still often lost in the weeds.