Czech Republic announces new measures to ban CBD and other hemp-derived cannabinoid products from the market.
Although the country announced plans last year to legalize recreational cannabis, it is now planning to ban hemp-derived cannabinoid products that do not produce psychoactive effects.
The Ministry of Agriculture announced on April 25 its intention to set up new measures to remove products containing CBD and other hemp-derived cannabinoids from the Czech market, claiming that foodstuffs containing CBD cannot be placed on the market in any EU country due to the lack of scientific studies on their effects on human health.
Agriculture Minister Zdeněk Nekula said in a press statement that food products containing CBB and other cannabinoids derived from hemp cannot be sold unless they are certified as safe by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), which provides independent scientific advice on food-related risks. He also admitted that the ban will impact some food business operators.
The Czech Republic is the only EU country to allow a THC limit of 1% in industrial hemp, whereas other member states have set the limit at 0.2%, although the EU has recently announced that it will increase the THC limit to 0.3%.
The Czech Republic’s food market offers a diverse range of CBD products, including those derived from hemp seed or produced synthetically, as well as other hemp-derived cannabinoids.
These products come in various forms, such as oils, tinctures,…