CBD oils as a food supplement

It is no longer a secret that CBD oils can provide support for many areas of life and situations. However, the legal situation of CBD oils is more complex than expected. Experience shows that almost all CBD oil owners take and consume it. However, manufacturers and retailers advise against the consumption of CBD oils - and they are forced to do so. In this blog, we explain why CBD oil must not be consumed or swallowed, what the connection is to the Novel Food Act, which quality characteristics are particularly important for CBD oils and why the legal situation is so complicated compared to topical CBD products.

The Novel Food Act in relation to CBD

What is the Novel Foods Act?

The Novel Food Regulation is an EU regulation that governs the handling of novel foods. A novel food is a food or food ingredient that has not been used for human consumption to a significant degree in the EU before 15 May 1997.
The Regulation aims to ensure the safety of novel foods and to ensure a uniform regime for their handling within the EU. It aims to ensure that novel foods are tested for safety and tolerance before they are marketed and that consumers are adequately informed.

What are novel foods?

Novel foods, also referred to as novel foods, are foods or food ingredients that have not been used for human consumption on a significant scale in the European Union before 15 May 1997. The definition includes both novel foods, which are traditional foods from other countries and cultures, and those based on new technologies or production processes.
Manufacturers of novel foods must apply for authorisation from the European Commission before they can place their products on the market. The requirements for authorization may vary depending on the type of novel food. In the context of the upcoming legalisation, in which, among other things, cannabis social clubs may be founded in Germany, it will be interesting to see whether CBD is officially considered marketable.

What are examples of novel foods?

Examples of novel foods include insects as a food source, algae and fungi as food ingredients, novel oils and fats, and novel foods produced through innovative processing technologies. These foods often have special properties or benefits in terms of health, sustainability or consumer preferences.
Novel foods are subject to specific approval procedures in the European Union and must be assessed by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) for their safety and security before being authorised on the market. This is to protect consumers and ensure that novel foods are safe before they are placed on the market.

Is CBD oil a novel food?

Yes, CBD oil is classified as a novel food in the EU. This means that it has not been widely used as a food or food ingredient in the EU before 15 May 1997. According to the Novel Food Regulation of the European Union, novel foods must undergo an assessment to ensure that they are safe for consumption. In the EU, the European Commission has issued a preliminary opinion on the classification of CBD as a Novel Food. However, it should be noted that the classification of CBD oil as a Novel Food does not mean that it is not safe, but that it requires specific regulation and monitoring to ensure safety and quality.
According to the Novel Food Regulation of the European Union, manufacturers of CBD oils must demonstrate that their products are safe for consumption and meet the legal requirements. This requires scientific evaluation and approval by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) or the competent national authorities.
Although CBD oils are considered novel foods, they are legal in many European countries and can be sold as long as they do not violate the Novel Food Regulation. For this reason, CBD products such as oils are sold as cosmetic products or in shape of flowers as room fresheners.

Why can CBD oils be sold even though they are novel foods?

CBD oils are not officially allowed to be consumed or consumed as novel foods because they are subject to the Novel Food Act. However, just because they are a novel food does not mean they are illegal. CBD oils are legally available, among other things, as long as they contain less than 0.2% THC, are not fit for consumption and come from certified commercial hemp seeds of the EU catalogue of varieties.

CBD oils are often sold as cosmetic products after a cosmetic notification has been completed. This takes place at the Portal for Cosmetic Notification (CPNP), among others.

CBDSÍ CBD oils are, for example, cosmetic products for the care of the oral cavity and are, of course, not suitable for consumption or consumption, which we also point out in the product descriptions.

Consumption of CBD oils

Is it a problem that CBD oils are not approved as food?

The regulation of food by competent authorities proves to be necessary to protect people from harmful foods or ingredients. This is the only way to ensure that over-the-counter products are not severely harmful to health. In the case of CBD, however, the issue of novel foods is proving to be counterproductive. The fact that CBD oils are not tested because they are not officially approved, but are only available as cosmetic products in a roundabout way, means that quality cannot be ensured, as approval for cosmetic products is by far not a big hurdle compared to food approval. The update of the legal situation has been delayed by the authorities for a long time - presumably so that after the legalisation of THC flowers only the pharmaceutical industry can sell CBD oils.

What is the impact of selling CBD oils as a cosmetic product?

Due to the lack of quality control of cosmetic products, there are quite a few suppliers whose CBD oils contain pesticides and herbicides. Other harmful substances in CBD oils are also not uncommon. Mostly, cheap ingredients are bought and mixed with CBD isols from Europe to save money in production - sometimes CBD oils are also produced synthetically on a full scale. We are aware of all these methods. CBDSÍ CBD oils are produced entirely in Switzerland. All ingredients come from a Swiss plantation. Through comprehensive quality controls, we guarantee the highest quality from sustainable production.

How can we ensure that CBD oils are of high quality?

In addition to a reputable source of supply, you should also make sure which ingredients are contained in CBD oils. It is not uncommon for CBD oils to contain cheap coconut extract, where the ingredients are uncertain. Fruit flavours such as citrus, strawberry or mint are also often found in CBD oils and it is advertised that the CBD oils have a fruity taste. Are many people aware of the harmful substances that synthetic dyes can contain? We doubt it.

Are the CBD oils from CBDSÍ of high quality?

In an industry where CBD oils with harmful substances are circulating all over Europe due to the lack of food approval, it was very important for us to counteract this from the very first second. Our CBD oils are made from 100% hemp. We deliberately avoid cheap flavour enhancers - even if many people find the taste of hemp a little too bitter and it takes some getting used to. We prefer CBD oil as a pure natural product and we guarantee that. This has been very popular so far, especially with our full-spectrum CBD oil with 20%. We leave it up to our customers whether they want to mix it with other ingredients in the form of coffee or tea. Of course, we would like to point out once again that our CBD oils are not suitable for consumption.

Application of topical CBD products

What is topical application?

A topical application refers to the application of medication or other substances to the skin or mucous membrane to achieve local effects. Topical application allows the drug or substance to be applied directly to the affected area to achieve the desired effect. This can provide rapid relief of symptoms and minimise potential side effects that may occur with other forms of administration.

When does topical application occur?

Topical application is usually used when a local effect on the skin or mucous membrane is desired. This can be the case for a variety of diseases and symptoms, such as:

• Skin diseases such as eczema, psoriasis, neurodermatitis or herpes
  
• Acne and pimples
  
• Pain and inflammation in certain parts of the body
  
• Injuries, cuts or wounds
  
• Fungal infections or infections with bacteria or viruses on the skin or mucous membrane
  
• Itching and skin irritation
  
• Sunburn or other skin damage due to UV radiation
  

Which CBD products can be applied topically?

CBD (cannabidiol) products can be applied topically in various forms to achieve local effects. Some examples of topical products containing CBD are:

• Ointments and creams containing CBD: These can be applied to the skin to relieve pain, inflammation and skin problems such as acne and eczema. CBD may have anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties that can help relieve these symptoms.
  
• CBD-containing balms and lotions: These products can be applied to the skin to soothe dry and irritated skin. CBD can have moisturising and anti-inflammatory properties that can help to nourish and regenerate the skin.
  
• Massage oils containing CBD: These can be applied to the skin to relieve muscle tension and pain. CBD may have muscle-relaxing and pain-relieving properties that can help relieve these symptoms.
  
• Lip balms containing CBD: These can be applied to the lips to prevent dryness and chapping. CBD can have moisturising and anti-inflammatory properties that can help to nourish and protect the lips.
  

However, it is important to note that the effectiveness of CBD-containing topical products can vary from person to person and depends on the quality of the product. It is therefore advisable to seek advice from a doctor or qualified skin expert when choosing CBD-containing topical products.

Why is the topical application of CBD legal?

Since topical application of CBD-containing products does not consume or consume CBD, it is legal. Here, it comes exclusively to the external form of application, whereby the benefits of CBD can also be profited from. This is also an effective way to benefit from CBD. CBD can not only have positive effects on the psyche, but also on the body, which is why athletes are increasingly turning to CBD. Recently, sports scientists have also recommended the use of CBD, not only for humans, but also for horses.