Ecocert will no longer certify CBD-containing products as organic

In a letter addressed to those who have applied for organic certification for their CBD-containing products, Ecocert, the certifying body for the organic label, has announced that it will no longer grant its label for CBD products.

At issue is MILDECA's new position, having been contradicted by the Kanavape ruling, Ecocert has updated what it believes to be the correct legislative framework surrounding CBD in France. Ecocert stresses that it is reacting to requests from the French authorities, based in particular on this passage on the Novel Food from MILDECA :

«The marketing of foodstuffs is governed by Regulation (EC) No. 178/2002, according to which no foodstuff may be placed on the market if it is injurious to health or unfit for human consumption, and by Regulation (EU) No. 2015 / 2283 on novel foods: products for which no consumption history can be established prior to 1997 are subject to evaluation by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and to pre-market authorization. To date, CBD and hemp extracts are considered to have no history of consumption and therefore cannot be incorporated into food products.»

Novel Food challenged by EIHA

However, the classification of CBD as a Novel Food has already been called into question by hemp associations, in particular by the’European Industrial Hemp Association (EIHA), the association representing European hemp-related interests.

Unreservedly contesting this classification, EIHA has also submitted 4 files to classify 4 formulations of CBD Novel Food products which covers all CBD-related products. If the request succeeds, it would once again undermine the MILDECA's position.

In the meantime, Ecocert will withdraw organic certification from hemp products containing CBD.