Folium Biosciences becomes latest US firm to submit CBD Novel Food application in UK
Based in Colorado, Folium’s application closely follows that of Treehouse Biotech, another Colorado-based firm that earlier this week, also submitted its application for its range of CBD-based ingredients.
“This novel food application is one more essential step in ensuring continued compliance for our customers, as well as our products, in the European market,” says Vanesa Fernandez, Folium’s Chief Scientific Officer.
“We’re proud to be continuing to demonstrate global CBD leadership as an active participant in the UK’s regulatory advances and look forward to moving through the novel foods regulatory process next in the EU.”
According to Folium, the application, which was submitted on behalf of the firm and its UK-based CBD partners, is unique because it is based on a botanical extract instead of a purified CBD material used in other applications.
This submission is specifically for its hemp-derived, 0.0% THC broad-spectrum CBD (cannabidiol) oil.
The firm guarantees 80% or more active CBD in its oil in addition to 30+ terpenes and other beneficial molecules.
Eliminating unwanted THC
“Our extraction & purification process uses a proprietary and patent-pending technology that preserves terpenes and plant lipids, while eliminating unwanted Delta-9-THC, waxes and chlorophyll,” says Folium on its website.
“A rigorous quality control and testing scheme is followed to ensure that critical attributes, taste, colour, potency, and purity, consistently meet customer’s requirements for finished products.”
Folium’s application also extends to its white-label finished products as well as the company’s Broad Spectrum Hemp Oil Water Soluble Powder.
This powder, which contains 20% CBD, other minor phytocannabinoids, and terpenes, is intended for dissolution immediately prior to consumption and for manufacturing of semisolid/solid products.
“Following the FSA guidelines is in line with our ‘not all hemp is created equal’ promise in many ways, but perhaps most importantly because it communicates unequivocally that we’re very intentional when it comes to delivering the best for our customers,” adds Fernandez.
“Folium has a long-standing track record for quality, safety, consistency and supply chain transparency that has enabled us to secure approvals from ethical commissions and regulatory bodies around the world.”
Application count
Folium and Treehouse Biotech’s applications come as the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) backtracked on initial advice and said it would accept applications up until 31 March, after receiving a large number of last-minute dossiers.
The Agency originally said companies had to submit their Novel Foods applications at least five weeks in advance of the 31 March deadline in order to allow time for the eight working days required for an administrative check and a further 30 working days for validation.
Other US-based firms in the CBD space to have declared a CBD-related submission to the FSA includes HempFusion Wellness and Kannaway, a subsidiary of Medical Marijuana, Inc.
Closer to home, UK-based Vitality CBD, whose brand is stocked by Tesco, Boots, Lloyds Pharmacy, Sainsburys, Ocado have also recently submitted an application as has another UK-based firm Love Hemp.
