The National Industrial Hemp Council (NIHC) files comments with the FDA to help direct their work on establishing a policy of enforcement discretion on CBD products. The comments were filed after the NIHC participated in a listening session with the FDA’s CBD Working Group in July.
Basic Safety Standards to Protect Consumers
The members of NIHC’s Consumer Protection Task Force emphasized the importance of establishing basic safety standards to protect consumers in this nascent industry and committed to follow up in writing with detailed policy recommendations.
The NIHC also met with the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) as part what is expected to be the forthcoming regulatory process.
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NIHC members support safety standards for our industry. We are well aware of the reports of inconsistent products that do not contain the ingredients listed on the label, those that feature unsubstantiated health claims, or which contain excessive THC levels or other contaminants,” wrote Patrick Atagi, NIHC board chairman to the FDA in a letter filing the comments.
Comments Focused on Key Regulatory Points
NIHC’s mission is to help advance the hemp industry through safe, reliably manufactured products that consumers can rely on and the council is glad to partner with FDA to bring this to fruition.
The comments submitted by the NIHC are focused on five key regulatory points:
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Existing studies support safety of human consumption of CBD in dosing appropriate for dietary supplements and conventional foods
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FDA should continue to allow marketing and sale of CBD cosmetics while it investigates CBD consumption’s systemic impact on humans
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Clarity regarding standardized testing requirements and laboratory practices
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Standardized national manufacturing and labeling requirements for product transparency
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Definitions for key terms, such as “broad spectrum,” “hemp extract,” etc.
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We believe that including these points in a policy of enforcement discretion would provide clear guidance for industry regarding FDA’s expectations for manufacturing and labeling CBD products,” concluded Atagi.
Source: National Industrial Hemp Council (NIHC)