EU court says CBD foods need approval for sale before they can be certified organic

The EU's top court says CBD foods cannot be certified organic without approval for sale. The ruling concerns a cannabis compound whose use in food requires authorization, including before organic certification. The European Union 's top court ruled Thursday that foods containing cannabidiol, or CBD, cannot receive organic certification without first being authorized for sale in the bloc.

CBD is a compound found in cannabis , commonly extracted from hemp — cannabis varieties with low levels of THC. Unlike THC, CBD does not produce a high. The compound is widely marketed in oils, capsules and gummies as a wellness ingredient, often with claims about sleep, stress or pain relief.

The European Commission classifies CBD as a "novel food" — a food not consumed to a significant degree in the EU before May 15, 1997. Such foods require a safety assessment and authorization before they can legally be marketed. "Such certification contributes to the promotion of those products and conveys, in the eyes of consumers, a positive image of quality and approval," the court said.