The scientists at the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) are currently unable to establish the safety of cannabidiol (CBD) as a food due to data gaps and uncertainties about potential hazards associated with CBD ingestion.
Cannabidiol is a substance that can be obtained from Cannabis sativa L. plants and also chemically synthesized. The European Commission can CBD qualify as a novel food provided it meets the requirements of EU novel food legislation. After submitting numerous applications under the Novel Food Regulation, the Commission has asked EFSA for its opinion on whether CBD consumption is safe for humans.
Gaps and uncertainties in CBD data
EFSA's panel of experts on nutrition, novel foods and food allergens (NDA) has received 19 applications for cannabidiol as a novel food, with more in the pipeline.
NDA panel chair Prof. Dominique Turck said: “We have identified several hazards associated with CBD ingestion and determined that the many data gaps on these health effects need to be filled before these assessments can proceed. It is important to emphasize at this point that we have not concluded that it is unsafe as or in food.”
There is insufficient data on the effect on the liver, the gastrointestinal tract, the endocrine system, the nervous system and on the psychological well-being of humans. Animal studies show significant adverse effects, especially with regard to reproduction. It is important to establish whether these effects are also seen in humans.
Source: efsa.europe.eu (EN)
