On November 1, 2022, the Principal Deputy Commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Janet Woodcock had a virtual meeting on “Regulatory Pathways for Hemp Products, including Cannabidiol (CBD)” with representatives of the U.S. Health and Human Services Office of the Secretary and the Executive Office of the President. This meeting was announced in the FDA’s Public Calendar of meetings hosted between October 20-November 5, 2022.
While the exact details of the meeting are still unknown, it comes as the FDA faces increased criticism from members of Congress for having no established pathway for hemp products and CBD.
Rep. James Comer (R-KY) criticized FDA for not developing a pathway for CBD in dietary supplements in a November 15th hearing before the House Oversight and Reform Committee Subcommittee on Civil Rights and National Liberties.
On July 28, 2022, the House Agriculture Committee’s Subcommittee on Biotechnology, Horticulture, and Research held a hearing on the U.S. hemp market where Subcommittee Ranking Member Jim Baird (R-IN) and Committee Ranking Member Glenn Thompson (R-PA), in their opening statements, criticized the FDA’s lack of CBD regulation.
Many questions remain as to whether FDA can investigate CBD as an ingredient in dietary supplements or if it would consider CBD generally recognized as safe.
OFW will continue to monitor for more information. Please contact OFW if you have any questions, comments, or concerns.
