Introduction
The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) rolled out major updates in 2025, signaling the most proactive regulatory stance yet for the nation’s CBD foods sector. The FSA’s guidance now actively encourages brands with products on the CBD Public List to reformulate in line with current acceptable daily intake (ADI) recommendations and mandates new, detailed labeling requirements. These rules are set to fundamentally reshape compliance for food and supplement brands, retailers, and the online marketplace.
This comprehensive checklist breaks down the actions brands and retailers must take to stay on the right side of UK CBD regulations. We outline urgent compliance deadlines, label transition timelines, retailer delisting risks, and what the first wave of full FSA authorizations could mean for the future of shelf space.
In 2025, the FSA explicitly shifted from a passive oversight model to a more assertive stance—actively incentivizing CBD businesses to:
- Reformulate existing foods and supplements to meet the FSA’s provisional ADI of 10 mg CBD per day.
- Update all labels and product descriptions to display the recommended ADI and include prominent safety warnings: minimum age, health advisories for pregnancy and those on medications, and safe usage instructions (source).
- Prepare for immediate evidence substantiation showing product safety and compliance.
This move responds to continued public health concerns as the UK prepares for the first potential authorizations of novel CBD foods, ending years of regulatory limbo for compliant operators (FSA consultation, August 2025).
1. Verify Your CBD Product Status on the Public List
- Only products listed on the FSA’s CBD Public List—and linked to validated novel foods applications—are allowed to remain on the UK market.
- Check the current Public List status (FSA Public List). Remove, relabel, or reformulate non-compliant SKUs immediately to avoid enforcement risks.
- Assess serving size and total CBD per package to ensure no single serving now exceeds 10 mg CBD, which is the FSA’s provisional ADI.
- Adjust formulations, serving suggestions, and dosing guides as needed. Document all formulation changes and rationale for future review.
- If necessary, work with manufacturers and contract laboratories to verify batch potency and uniformity.
3. Update Labeling—Both On-Pack and Online!
- Clearly state: “Contains CBD. Do not exceed 10 mg per day.”
- Include required health warnings:
- “Not suitable for those under 18.”
- “Not suitable if pregnant or breastfeeding.”
- “Speak to your doctor if you take medications.”
- All claims and marketing materials, both on-pack and digital, must be consistent and not misleading.
- Update all online product listings, digital assets, and point-of-sale materials by the compliance deadline.
4. Prepare Safety Evidence and Documentation
- Have substantiation documentation ready: product stability, toxicology, and demonstration of alignment with the FSA’s novel food dossier requirements.
- Be prepared to supply evidence on request for rapid FSA or retailer spot checks.
5. Make a Compliance Transition Plan—Now
- Phase out old stock: Set up clear plans for sell-through of previously labeled products, communicate with distributors and retail partners.
- Keep all change control, reformulation, and label update records auditable and accessible.
Compliance Timelines and Key Dates: What to Know for 2025-2026
Label Changeover Deadlines
- The FSA, following its 2025 update, expects a swift shift to new labeling.
- Industry best practice: Complete all label, packaging, and digital compliance updates before the end of 2025 to avoid retailer delisting and enforcement actions in early 2026 (FSA guidance).
Retailer Delisting and Enforcement Risk
- Supermarkets, pharmacy chains, and specialty retailers are setting hard deadlines: products lacking compliant labeling and listed status are now at high risk of delisting.
- Expect major retail partners to audit inventory and purge non-conformant SKUs in Q1 2026.
Safety Substantiation & Evidence Requests
- The FSA is intensifying evidence spot-checks. Brands unable to supply safety data or verification of ADI compliance could face immediate suspension from the Public List.
Online Compliance: What’s Required of E-Commerce and Digital Retailers?
- Every SKU, and every online page, must have updated:
- ADI statement, safety warnings, and compliant health disclaimers.
- E-commerce operators must align PDP info, checkout notifications, and after-purchase instructions with the new FSA consumer protection requirements.
Tip: Audit (and screenshot) every UK-facing web page and online listing for traceability.
How the First Wave of FSA CBD Authorizations Will Redefine the Market
The FSA launched consultations for the first ever full authorizations for CBD novel foods in late August 2025, with decisions expected after the closing of the public comment period on 20 November 2025.
Why It Matters:
- Full authorization for even a small number of brands will create a new “gold standard”—potentially accelerating the removal of products still operating under the Public List’s interim tolerance.
- Expect retailers to prioritize fully authorized brands, shrinking shelf-space for any product that isn’t at the leading edge of regulatory compliance (see FSA consultation details).
Preparing for the Future:
- Even if your product is listed, proactive reformulation, clear ADI labeling, and robust evidence are now essential for long-term survival.
- Ongoing compliance requires regular reviews—align with the latest FSA recommendations and be ready for post-market monitoring requests after authorizations are granted.
- Verify every SKU’s Public List status and compliance with current FSA guidance immediately.
- Reformulate and relabel products to meet the 10 mg ADI cap. Prioritize transparent consumer safety information prominently on labels and digital assets.
- Work closely with contract manufacturers and supply chain partners to implement all changes before the end-of-2025 deadline.
- Prepare for evidence requests—keep data up to date and accessible.
- Anticipate retail and enforcement scrutiny in Q1 2026—non-compliance will put shelf presence and brand reputation at risk.
The Bottom Line
The era of passive CBD regulatory tolerance in the UK is over. The FSA’s 2025 reforms on reformulation, ADI labeling, and safety warnings are major compliance priorities. Successful companies will act now to minimize disruption, protect retail presence, and position their brands for full market authorization in 2026 and beyond.
For tailored regulatory intelligence, compliance planning tools, and up-to-the-minute UK CBD market updates, trust CannabisRegulations.ai to keep your business competitive and compliant.
