create some difficulties for companies that would see regu- latory barriers rise; on the other hand, clear rules in this area would give companies the opportunity to make longer-term programmes and to invest in research to develop innovative products for the benefit of both consumers and the sector in general. Actif’s Mag: Same question regarding CBD, described to be the next blockbuster in the food supplements area. Antonino Santoro: Cannabidiol (CBD) is a metabolite of Cannabis sativa; unlike delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), another metabolite contained in cannabis, CBD is not psychoactive, does not create habituation , possesses si- gnificant physiological activities , and it arouses increasing interest from the scientific community, industry and consu- mers. To date, the regulatory situation of the CBD in the EU remains not harmonised in the various Member States and partly confused as to its possible use as a food or food sup- plement. Nevertheless, Kannavape court case recently clari- fies the status of CBD in EU : CBD can be food. Until the end of 2018, extracts of CBD were considered no- vel only if the levels of CBD were higher than the CBD levels in the source Cannabis sativa L. The Standing Committee they were mentioned in the previous entry formulation and already decided in December 1997 and the Commission were already on the market and consumed before 1997 to confirmed to the European hemp industry in the beginning a significant degree. In winter 2018 WHO suggested that of 1998, that foods containing parts of the hemp plant do CBD is not a drug (it does not contain THC therefore it is not not fall under the scope of the regulations EC 258/97; hemp psychotropic neither addictive). In summer 2020 the legal flowers and leaves being parts of the hemp plant, were not services of the EC consider CBD as a drug/narcotic and all considered to be Novel Food. However, in January 2019, novel food applications were blocked. In winter 2020, fol- the Novel Food Catalogue ( not legally binding entries for lowing the ECJ ruling concerning the French CBD Kanavape “Cannabis sativa L.” and “Cannabinoids” were updated not case (C663/18), the EC has reviewed its preliminary conclu- on a science based basis. The new entry for “Cannabis sati- sion on CBD , stating that it should not be considered as a va L.” did not mention hemp leaves and flowers. Moreover, drug/narcotic and that it can be qualified as food. At the the traditionally produced hemp extracts (low concentra- same time, the United Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) tion of delta 9 THC) were also missing, although extraction voted to accept the WHO’s recommendation to remove THC is considered as a traditional and conventional method of from the list of substances with “particularly dangerous pro- food processing. In the new entry for CBD , extracts with a perties”. Recently the European Industrial Hemp Association naturally occurring level of CBD were excluded, although ( EIHA )(2) created a Novel Food Consortium with the task to finally achieve a legal and planning security for the European hemp industry and its CBD market. EIHA intends to secure a fair market for its members who farm, process and trade with CBD related products. EIHA will submit 3 Novel Food Applications (NFAs) on the behalf of their members. These NFAs will be supported by new toxicological studies. EHPM is following costantly the CBD situation with its botanical Working Group in cooperation also with EIHA. • Actif’s Magazine publishes the end of the interview with Antonino Santoro, new president of EHPM. The first part of this interview, conducted in March 2021, was published in issue #75. (1)January 2021 - EHPM Proposal on Botanicals Health claims - Ehpm (2) https://eiha.org/ Comments collected by Philippe Millet stneidergnI — stneidérgnI- 67 -