The questions addressed to the FSA board meeting in June covered a wide range of issues, including UK-EU sanitary and phytosanitary alignment, CBD novel food authorisations, the public list, enforcement guidance, incident data, proportionality, economic impact and the regulatory position of broad-spectrum, full-spectrum and whole-plant hemp extracts.

Following a question-by-question review, the CTA has assessed that only five questions were answered fully, 15 were answered partially and 38 were not answered.

This is the CTA’s analytical assessment and should not be interpreted as the FSA’s own characterisation of its response.

The CTA's questions can be found with the response at the bottom of this page.

What the FSA Confirmed

The response provides several useful points of clarification.

The FSA confirmed that it intends to continue its CBD work under the existing novel foods framework while the outcome of UK-EU sanitary and phytosanitary negotiations remains uncertain.

It also confirmed that inclusion on the CBD public list does not amount to product authorisation.

The response further stated that the FSA has not carried out a dedicated economic impact assessment examining the effect of the CBD novel foods process on small and medium-sized businesses.

In relation to safety incidents, the FSA reported that only a low number of CBD-related incidents had been recorded up to June 2026. According to the information supplied to the CTA, those incidents involved products assessed as non-compliant and recommended for removal from the market.

Significant Gaps Remain

Although the response acknowledges many of the themes raised by the CTA, it does not provide the level of practical detail that businesses now require.

There are no clear timescales for key decisions, no defined evidence requirements for affected product categories, no firm publication commitments and no detailed explanation of how enforcement bodies and inspectors will be instructed to apply the current position.

The response also does not provide a clear regulatory route for broad-spectrum, full-spectrum and whole-plant hemp extracts.

For businesses that have spent years investing in product development, compliance, toxicology, legal advice and novel food applications, this uncertainty is no longer a minor administrative issue.

It directly affects investment decisions, reformulation, stock planning, contractual commitments, market confidence and business survival.

Acknowledgement Is Not the Same as an Answer

The CTA recognises that some matters remain subject to ongoing policy work and wider negotiations.

However, industry stakeholders need more than acknowledgement that an issue exists.

They need dates, criteria, evidence standards, enforcement guidance and a clear explanation of what will happen next.

A consolidated response that leaves the majority of detailed questions unanswered does not provide businesses with the certainty required to plan responsibly.

CTA Will Continue to Seek Clarification

The CTA will continue to pursue answers between now and September.

Our focus will remain on securing clear, practical and accountable information for businesses operating within the UK CBD and hemp sectors.

Where regulatory decisions may affect lawful products, jobs, investment and the future of established businesses, stakeholders must be given sufficient information to understand the rules and prepare for their implementation.

The CTA will continue to engage directly with the FSA and other relevant bodies and will provide further updates as more information becomes available.