16 CBD Companies Sign Up for Toxicity Study
Anyone familiar with the cannabinoid industry knows that regulation has been an ongoing battle. Regulators need more data on the effects of CBD before they can make clear guidelines on how to regulate it.
The UK’s Association for the Cannabinoid Industry (ACI) recently announced it will perform a new toxicity and safety study, where sixteen CBD companies will participate in a 90 day examination of CBD’s effect on rodents with regards to liver toxicity and interactions with other medications.
Data from this study will benefit the CBD company’s novel food applications with the UK’s Food Standards Agency (FSA), which each company needs for each of its products to prevent them from being removed from shelves in March 2021.
What are the details?
Initial tests by the ACI will involve products from all sixteen companies participating in the study before narrowing it down to one broad spectrum product for further toxicology tests.
Companies participating in the study include Gencanna, Echo Pharmaceuticals, Sativa Group, MGS Pure Extracts, Britannia Bud, and CBD Capital.
The study is expected to cost anywhere from £300,000 up to £1 million, so the ACI has partnered with the formulated products consulting company Advanced Development & Safety Laboratories (ADSL) to lend their expertise.
The ADSL’s managing director, Mark Richard Bowes-Cavanagh, said in a virtual press conference that they’ll be administering protocols for genotoxic tests, micronucleus assays, the Ames test, ADME (absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion) data, and, of course, the primary rodent study.
Impact of Study
The FSA announced earlier this year a novel foods authorization from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) was needed by March 31, 2021 to prevent CBD products being removed from UK retailers.
Steve Moore, founder of the ACI, stated that toxicology data would be a key component of the novel foods applications, so company’s without this data risk not getting the authorization. This would make this study crucial to the success of a company’s application.
The FSA offered some clarification following the confusion and stated the company's applications need either data from toxicological studies undertaken or details on the studies they plan to do with justification for the delay and timetable for expected results.
Key Takeaway
While the constantly changing guidelines and ambiguous rulings from regulators are frustrating for both companies and consumers in the CBD industry, data from this study will be very beneficial in driving the industry forward and ensuring CBD products remain widely available.
Company Update
Entering the CBD market can be confusing. Which products should I have? What kind of ingredients do I need? If you or someone you know would like some of these questions answered, or simply want to try some of our product, let us know! Give us a call at (317) 741-5173 or email us at info@bdxco.com.