Is CBD Legal in Portugal?
May 29, 2026
CBD in Portugal is regulated as a medicine by INFARMED. Retail oils and edibles need novel food authorization. Full legal status, sources, and import rules.
CBD in Portugal is regulated as a medicine by INFARMED. Retail oils and edibles need novel food authorization. Full legal status, sources, and import rules.
CBD in Portugal sits in a narrow lane. INFARMED treats cannabidiol as a medicinal substance, so CBD products marketed for therapeutic effect require a medicine authorization. Over-the-counter CBD oils, cosmetics, and food supplements sold elsewhere in Europe do not have a clear legal pathway for retail sale in Portugal.
The framework rests on Decree-Law 8/2019 and Ordinance 83/2021, which place cannabis-derived preparations — including isolated cannabinoids — under INFARMED's medicines regime. Epidyolex (cannabidiol) is the main CBD medicine authorized through the European Medicines Agency and dispensed by prescription. CBD-containing cosmetics may be placed on the market if they meet EU Regulation 1223/2009 and use hemp-derived ingredients permitted under CosIng, but products making health claims trigger medicines law. CBD foods and supplements are treated as novel foods under EU Regulation 2015/2283 and need pre-market authorization from the European Commission; no full authorizations have been granted, so retail CBD edibles remain in regulatory limbo. ASAE, the food and economic safety authority, has seized CBD products from Portuguese retailers in past inspections.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Verify current law with qualified counsel before making compliance decisions.
Restricted
INFARMED (medicines); ASAE (consumer products); DGAV (hemp-derived ingredients)
Finished CBD products must contain no controlled level of THC; hemp inputs follow the EU 0.3% field limit
Decree-Law 8/2019; Ordinance 83/2021; EU Regulation 2015/2283 (Novel Food)
Pharmaceutical-grade CBD moves under INFARMED's medicines import and export regime, which requires an establishment license plus shipment-level authorization. Cosmetic CBD products circulate freely within the EU under mutual recognition once notified to the Cosmetic Products Notification Portal. CBD food and supplement imports remain blocked at the EU border in the absence of a Novel Food authorization, and Portuguese customs has refused entry to consignments lacking proper classification.
