Austria moves to tighten regulations governing CBD products

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Austrian Minister For Social Affairs Beate Hartinger-Klein has announced the government’s intention to review the current status of CBD products in the country. While plans don’t include the banning of sale stricter regulations could be placed on a number of goods.

Smoking products will not be banned but are likely to be subject to laws to prevent youth usage. Like e-cigarettes, these products will be for over-18’s and come with warnings. The shipping and postage of smoking products will also be restricted. Plans to make smokeable CBD products available in specialist shops which were mooted by the industry have been rejected by the Austrian Minister for Finance.

Foods are affected

It’s also been confirmed that CBD foods and drinks will need approval from the EU due to the ‘novel food’ status of CBD. This means a number of products in Austria will have to immediately come off the shelves including a popular brownie stocked in the Aida confectionery chain. Likewise, CBD cosmetics will also be taken off shelves under the new regulations.

Austria, like many European countries has a booming CBD market. A variety of smokables, edibles, sprays, tinctures, cosmetics and other items have emerged in recent years. These products are found everywhere in supermarket chains like Lidl, pharmacies, confectionery shops and even a vending machine located on Mariahilfer Street in Vienna.

Cannabis also targeted

It’s not just the CBD market that has been targeted in Austria. Earlier this year it was reported the government wants to impose a ban on cannabis seeds and cuttings, which are currently legal in Austria. For this reason, the largest legal growshop in the country, “Flowery Field,” looks set to relocate and establish itself in Italy in the future. **

The moves in Austria seem to echo what is happening in other countries. As reported by HempToday both Portugal and Greece are seeing their CBD and hemp industries disrupted by confusion in government circles. – Brian Houlihan