When it comes to CBD regulations, France has already given us a few twists and turns...
But this time, it's the whole of Europe that could be paying the price.
👉 A new offensive launched in France aims to reclassify CBD as a substance toxic to human reproduction.
A proposal that has already landed on the desk of the European authorities and, if passed, could turn the entire market upside down.
What's at stake?
➡️ Access to CBD products
➡️ Consumer rights
➡️ And the survival of many brands committed to a natural, responsible approach.
The roots of the controversy: the alert from France
When it comes to CBD in France, it's often a veritable legal soap opera.
And yet, France is Europe's leading hemp producer, with almost 20,000 hectares under cultivation. Despite this, the legal framework has continued to zigzag between bans, reversals and contradictory decisions. ⚖️
🎬 Remember the Kanavape case: in 2020, the Court of Justice of the European Union ruled in favor of a French company that had been legally importing CBD from the Czech Republic.
👉 The verdict? If CBD is legal in one EU country, it must be able to circulate freely in the others.
A landmark judgment, which has put the French government under a great deal of pressure.
But the story doesn't end there.
🚫 In 2022, France banned CBD flowers.
✅ In 2023, the Conseil d'Etat overturned the decree and authorized their sale once again.
➡️ Better still, a provisional law authorizes the use of CBD as a dietary supplement, without prior authorization, with a simple declaration... as long as the concentration remains below 20% and 50 mg/day max.
At the time, we thought that France was beginning to play the common sense card.
But obviously, it was too good to last.
From local to European: when the machine goes haywire
Everything seemed to be settling down at last... until an acronym reignited the panic: theANSES.
👉 The French National Health and Safety Agency conducted a series of tests with extremely high doses of CBD (up to 2000 mg/day, i.e. 40 times the maximum recommended dose).
And the verdict came down like a cold shower: “CBD could be toxic to human reproduction”.
An explosive proposal
ANSES is pushing for CBD to be reclassified as category 1B, alongside substances presumed toxic to fertility.
The result?
Ultra-strict labelling
Visual warning “⚠️ Danger for pregnant women”.
And in the worst case: sales restrictions or total bans.
💣 Imagine: your CBD bottles labeled like dangerous chemicals, with black-on-white pictograms. Suffice to say, it's chilling.
And now Europe is getting involved
What's most worrying?
This proposal has been forwarded to theECHA (European Chemicals Agency).
If it is validated at this level, the entireEuropean Union could see CBD fall under ultra-rigid regulations.
ECHA enters the scene: the European turning point
Since March,ECHA has opened a public consultation on the ANSES opinion. This feedback period ends on May 16, and an official opinion is expected by August 2025.🌍
What's at stake here? Nothing less than a European reclassification of CBD as a substance posing a risk to reproduction, regardless of its form (oil, e-liquid, supplement, cosmetic...).
🛑 What this could mean in concrete terms:
Severe restrictions on sales
Prohibition of certain forms (such as flowers or e-liquids)
No more over-the-counter sales, even on prescription
Yes, you read that right: even a prescription wouldn't be enough to get around such regulations.
In short: if this decision goes through, the entire European CBD industry will be on the rocks, from producer to consumer.
CBD in Europe: what future for hemp products?
In Italy, the association Canapa Sativa Italiawhich is very active in the defense of CBD, is sounding the alarm.
It is calling for an urgent mobilization to challenge the French proposal to theECHA, and recalls a simple fact:
👉 CBD used in cosmetics, the only use officially authorized at European level, has never demonstrated any significant danger.
Their message is clear:
Defending a natural, safe product,
Protecting consumers who need it,
And avoid an abrupt halt to a fast-growing market.
💬 If this requalification goes through, the whole of European CBD could disappear from the shelves.
Thousands of jobs could evaporate, and an entire sector could slip into the shadows, without any sound health reason.
Maybe it's time to differentiate between true health prudence... and bureaucratic panic.
In a nutshell: the time to defend CBD is now
Today, CBD is threatened by an unjustified reclassification that could upset the entire European market.
This is not just an administrative debate: it's a question of access to a natural product, freedom of consumption, and support for a responsible industry.
At CannaHouse, we continue to defend CBD that's safe, tested, transparent - and above all, accessible to all.
➡️ Stay informed, share the news, and don't hesitate to support ongoing mobilizations.
Because the best defense of CBD is a well-awake community.
