Oils, snacks and drinks containing the cannabis extract cannabidiol (CBD) will be “taken off the shelves” next year if they do not gain regulatory approval.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) said products had to be registered by March 2021 or they would be pulled.
Despite rising sales of CBD goods, not one product has been approved in the UK yet, raising safety concerns.
The FSA has also issued new advice on CBD use, saying it should not be used alongside other medication.
Cannabidiol is derived from cannabis but does not have any psychoactive properties. It is sold in some pharmacies and health food shops as a supplement and used to treat conditions such as pain or insomnia.
However, the FSA only began regulating the market in January last year and some argue it has dragged its feet.
Trials have found CBD products on sale that contain unlisted and potentially hazardous ingredients, or illegal levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive ingredient in cannabis.
Many may contain little or none of the extract itself, contrary to their marketing claims and despite their high prices.
The FSA said producers had been slow to submit their products for approval, forcing it to impose the deadline.
“The CBD industry must provide more information about the safety and contents of these products to the regulator by March 2021, or the products will be taken off the shelves,” boss Emily Miles said.
Source:Â bbc.com