The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) reclassified CBD as a Novel Food, a change that could prohibit CBD product sales in Europe and cut off supplies for consumers. The European Industrial Hemp Association (EIHA) has requested the European Commission to recognize hemp extracts with naturally occurring CBD levels as traditional in food. EIHA stresses that hemp extracts and tinctures were made and sold in products, which would nowadays be “supplements” up to 80 years ago. Dr. Sarah Brewer, medical nutritionist and health journalist believed the new classification by EFSA was for regulatory/technicality reasons and not for safety reasons.

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has reclassified cannabidiol (CBD) as a Novel Food in a change that may mean CBD and hemp-derived food supplements cannot be legally sold within Europe. 

Whilst not an official ruling the recently-added submission, specifically by the European Commission's Working Group of Novel Foods, to the Agency’s Novel Foods catalogue for the term ‘Cannabinoids’ now states, "…extracts of Cannabis sativa L. and derived products containing cannabinoids are considered novel foods as a history of consumption has not been demonstrated." ...

Further news reports suggested the UK’s Food Standards Agency (FSA) now want CBD food products removed from commercial sale while the application to permit its use is finalised. If successful, producers would be unable to sell products for up to 18 months cutting off supply to consumers.

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