Dietary Supplement Industry Calls for CBD Protections

Four U.S. dietary supplement trade associations have signed and delivered an open letter to Congress calling for clarification on CBD product marketing and sales, according to a press release.

The groups — the American Herbal Products Association (AHPA), Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA), Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), and United Natural Products Alliance (UNPA) — call specifically for Congress to, “pass legislation to clarify that CBD derived from the hemp plant is a lawful dietary ingredient if the dietary supplement containing the CBD meets established product safety and quality criteria.”

“These actions are urgent given the strong consumer interest in CBD, the growth in products and sales, and the need for clarity among consumers, retailers, and manufacturers about the legal status of these products,” the letter reads.

“While FDA has been working to craft its policy on hemp-derived products…it could take three to five years for even an expedited rule-making process to establish a legal regulatory pathway for use of CBD in dietary supplements and conventional foods. Given the rapidly growing marketplace of products…it is crucial that Congress take quick action to clarify the legal status of hemp-derived CBD dietary supplements…[and]…essential for FDA to have the resources it needs to protect the public from unsafe CBD products.” — Excerpt from the letter

Hemp was legalized at the federal level last December and, while the FDA has been working since toward the release of new CBD regulations, the industry remains in a somewhat limbo state with CBD awareness and demand only continuing to rise among consumers.