Is CBD Legal in Ireland?
Cannabis Laws in Ireland
Cannabis in Ireland is illegal for recreational purposes. Use for medical purposes requires case-by-case approval by the Minister for Health. A bill to legalise medical uses of cannabis passed second reading in Dáil Éireann (lower house) in December 2016
Medicinal Cannabis in Ireland
In February 2017 by Health Minister Simon Harris recommended that medicinal cannabis should be made available to those with specified medical conditions. The Cannabis for Medical Use Report makes eight recommendations, compiled by the Health Products Authority (HPA) stating that cannabis has potential therapeutic benefits but agrees there is a need for robust evidence from clinical trials.
Although medical cannabis can be available through prescription there appears to be a lack of organization and knowledge of the treatment in the medical community. The state claim that prescriptions will be reviewed but many consultants have no expertise in the use of medicinal cannabis.
Industrial Hemp regulations in Ireland
Ireland, just as most other European countries, has a long history of growing hemp, which was interrupted during the 20th century due to the global paradigm shift to criminalisation of cannabis.
In Ireland, Cannabis sativa (hemp) is classed as a controlled drug under the Misuse of Drugs Regulations and possession of the material is an offence. To enable the development of an industry based on hemp, a licence to grow approved varieties of hemp can be obtained.
In around 1995, the Irish authorities began to assess hemp as a potential source of sustainable fibre and oil; now, in keeping with EU regulations, it is legal to cultivate EU-approved varieties of hemp, containing no more than 0.2% THC, provided the cultivator is in possession of a valid licence from the Department of Health and Children.
Is CBD Oil Legal In Ireland?
In Ireland, CBD is not illegal under the Misuse of Drugs Act.
CBD is not currently authorised as a medicinal product by the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) in Ireland.
This means that it is not considered as a treatment option and CBD products can not be prescribed by doctors.
In Ireland, you can buy CBD so long as it contains Zero THC. It can be purchased online and in health food stores and is available in some pharmacies. It is treated as a food supplement and not as a medicine.
UPDATE: OCT 2019
Ireland – Food Safety Authority of Ireland – CBD Oils and Hemp Oils – Legal Status
The Irish Food Safety Authority issued an update on the status of CBD oil and their interpretation of the recent changes novel food catalogue. If you are planning on selling CBD oil you should read this carefully
Following the recent changes in the novel food catalogue the Irish Food Standards Agency have updated their position regarding CBD Oil and published their interpretation of these guidelines.
https://www.fsai.ie/faq/cbd_oils_and_hemp_oils_legal_status.html
Are you planning to sell CBD oil? Did you know some forms of this oil are not allowed to be sold as food or food supplements in the EU?
If the CBD oil is extracted using particular extraction methods, like using solvents or supercritical CO2 extraction, you cannot sell it in the EU (unlike CBD oil extracted simply by pressing e.g. cold pressing). It is important that you know how the CBD oil has been extracted.
These types of oils need authorisation from the EU. If you want to sell these products you must apply for novel food authorisation. You can do this on the European Commission website.
You should be aware that this is not a quick process and authorisation may not be granted.
What is a novel food?
A novel food is a food or food ingredient that was not available on the EU market to a significant degree prior to May 15, 1997.
Why are some CBD/hemp oils considered to be novel foods?
Generally speaking, hemp oil obtained by cold-pressing the seeds or other parts of the hemp plant does not require authorisation. This is because hemp oil was consumed in the EU to a significant degree before 1997 (see entry for Cannabis sativa L in the EU Novel Food Catalogue).
If, however, the CBD/hemp oil is subjected to certain forms of extraction or purification techniques, then a novel food authorisation may be required, as there may be an accompanying increase in undesirable constituents. A typical example is hemp oil subjected to supercritical CO2 extraction.
But I see CBD oil extract for sale everywhere and can easily get it from suppliers? How can it be illegal?
These products have been placed on the market without authorisation and are not permitted for sale. As we become aware of such products their status on the market is addressed.
Why is it NOT OK to sell CBD oil that has been extracted using particular techniques?
When using particular techniques to purify or concentrate a desirable constituent in a food, like CBD, undesirable substances that may be harmful to consumers’ health could also be enriched. Extracts obtained using these techniques must be assessed for safety before they are authorised for sale.
How do I apply for authorisation?
Information on novel foods and how to submit an application for authorisation is available on the Novel Food Section of the European Commission website.
What are hemp oils and CBD oils?
A number of products with names such as hemp oil, hemp seed oil, cannabidiol oil, CBD oil or CBD hemp oil recently entered the Irish market. These products are derived from the hemp plant (Cannabis sativa). They are typically marketed as food supplements (or dietary supplements) in liquid or capsule form.
Oil is obtained from the hemp plant by cold-pressing the seeds or other parts of the hemp plant. This oil naturally contains low levels of cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychoactive compound. CBD can also be chemically extracted from hemp to produce products with a higher CBD content.
Are there any authorised health claims for hemp oils or CBD oils?
A health claim is any claim that states, suggests or implies that a relationship exists between a food category, a food or one of its constituents and health. No health claims relating to hemp or CBD are authorised for use under Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 (see FSAI’s Information on Nutrition and Health Claims).
Can medicinal claims be made about hemp oils or CBD oils?
Medicinal claims are those which attribute to food the property of preventing, treating or curing a human disease. It is not permitted to make a medicinal claim about food. Therefore claims such as ‘treats seizures’, ‘cures cancer’, ‘lowers anxiety’ or ‘anti-inflammatory’ must not be made on the label of a food, verbally or on associated marketing material such as websites, social media, leaflets, etc.
Products that either contain a medicinal substance or make a medicinal claim are considered to be medicinal products. Medicinal products fall within the remit of the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) and must be authorised prior to being placed in the Irish market (see HPRA’s Guide to Definition of a Human Medicine).
Who authorises CBD for medicinal use in Ireland?
The HPRA is the competent authority for authorising medicinal products in Ireland. Its role is to ensure that only products that are safe, effective and of an appropriate quality based on clinical and scientific data can be authorised and supplied as medicines in Ireland (see HPRA’s report: Cannabis for Medical Use – A Scientific Review). At present there are no authorised medicines in Ireland that contain CBD as the only active ingredient. Accordingly, CBD products currently being sold for consumer use are not approved for the prevention or treatment of medical conditions or symptoms associated with such conditions.
Is it legal to grow hemp?
Yes, under licence from the Department of Health, certain varieties of the hemp plant (Cannabis sativa) are legally grown for a range of uses including for food and feed. The varieties of hemp permitted to be grown in Europe are those listed in the EU’s ‘Common Catalogue of Varieties of Agricultural Plant Species’ and for which the tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content does not exceed 0.2% (Regulation (EU) No 1307/2013).
What is THC?
The cannabis plant contains a range of cannabinoids – some of which are psychoactive (affect the mind) and some not. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) or, more precisely, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC), is a psychoactive constituent of the hemp plant. As THC can cause symptoms associated with psychosis, products that contain THC are subject to strict controls under the Misuse of Drugs Acts 1977 to 2016.
At EU level, the presence of Δ9-THC, its precursors and other cannabinoids in food from hemp and in food from animals fed using hemp-derived feed is being monitored as part of official controls under Commission Recommendation (EU) 2016/2115.
https://sensiseeds.com/en/blog/legal-status-of-cannabis-in-ireland-an-overview/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Misuse_of_Drugs_Act_(Ireland)
http://www.thejournal.ie/medical-cannabis-cbd-oil-4138824-Jul2018/
https://www.fsai.ie/faq/cbd_oils_and_hemp_oils_legal_status.html
Hi recently I bought 6 bottles of 10 ml CBD food supplement from UK with certificate whith shows that THC was around 0.08 %, but Irish Custom confiscated this food supplement and now I am probably one of the biggest marijuana drug user in Limerick. I make chat with Irish Custom officer and he enplane that there is no legal % of THC in Ireland. I lost about 200 euro and get negative status in Irish custom and waiting for Irish Garda investigation… Please correct you information about Irish CBD regulation – CBD only without any % of THC
Sincerely
Ivars
Thank you Ivars,
Sorry to hear about your issue with customs. We have updated our article and included a link to the Irish Food Safety Authority and their position in regards to CBD.