CBD CIRCUIT
Research and
regulation
“A large amount of consumers are going to have negative opinions.
It’s something the industry has to get over”
Neil Hendry, Head of Consulting at GlobalData Consumer
opened the two-day conference and chaired the various panel
discussions which took place. The amendment to the Novel Food
Regulations in Europe had everyone talking. This announcement
coincidentally came the same morning Europe’s CBD enthusiasts
were flocking to Chelsea for this event. Neil addressed this, more
specifically, on the topic of stigma and understanding CBD, which
is something both the CBD and vape industries know too well.
“One of the key things to appreciate is a large amount of consumers
are going to have negative opinions. It’s something the industry
has to get over.”
What can help the industry combat stigma? Research. “If it can
be shown that CBD can fortify products and help reduce health
expenditure, it will move towards a regulatory environment.”
One trend Neil identified is the medicinal cannabis route. He said:
“Government attitudes are evolving, with widespread approval for
medicinal use.” The chair also pointed out that already, there are,
“60 clinical trials ongoing” which are looking for signs that CBD
may help in treating pain, alcohol addiction, multiple sclerosis (MS)
and weening people off of opiates.
122 VAPOUROUND CBD MAGAZINE
CBD Intel
“This is going to be a highly uncertain next few years for the industry”
Tim Phillips, Managing Director at CBD Intel and Ecigintelligence
on the changes to the Novel Food Regulations at a European level.
Vapouround enquired to the UK’s Food Standard’s Authority and
was told this will not affect CBD e-liquids, however it may affect
other CBD products currently being sold in vape shops.
“What has happened is the European Food Standards Agency has
changed the definition of CBD. It wasn’t done with a lot of notice,
I don’t think many saw it coming.
What’s not clear is whether the government will take that and put
it into our legislation. I think it is quite likely that they will, on
past performance, a lot of governments follow on the European
Food Standards Agency guidance. This is an agency based in Italy
with scientists who look at food and obviously, it is very important
governments take their advice on board. What does it mean? I
think it may well mean we see different types of factors come
through. France was very heavily into vape CBD, we might see
some of the other markets change slightly. I suspect it will change
the market. Unfortunately, for the industry I think it will mean a
whole load of uncertainty. For products which are already on
the market, the truth is we don’t know if they will be left on the
market or not. We know there are plenty of shops coming under
pressure from Trading Standards, lots of products taken off the
shelves in France and Spain and various other countries around
Europe. This is going to be a highly uncertain next few years for
the industry.”