The FSA Public List is not a list of “FSA-approved CBD products”. It is a record used in England and Wales for CBD food products linked to novel food applications that are progressing through the regulatory process. Products on the list are not formally authorised simply because they appear there, and inclusion is not a guarantee that authorisation will follow.
That distinction matters for shoppers because terms such as “FSA approved”, “FSA registered” and “on the Public List” are often used as though they mean the same thing. They do not. This guide explains what novel-food status means, why the Public List exists, what you can and cannot conclude from an entry, and which other checks still matter when comparing a CBD oil, gummy, capsule, drink or other ingestible format.
CBD novel foods and the Public List at a glance
| Question | Practical answer |
|---|---|
| Is CBD a novel food? | CBD extracts, isolates, synthetic CBD and foods to which they are added are treated as novel foods. |
| What is the FSA Public List? | A list of CBD food products linked to novel food applications that meet the FSA's eligibility criteria for its current enforcement approach in England and Wales. |
| Does Public List status mean formal authorisation? | No. The FSA states that products on the Public List are not formally authorised simply by appearing on it. |
| Does it mean the FSA endorses the product? | No. List status should not be treated as a quality award or endorsement. |
| Does the Public List apply across the whole UK? | No. The FSA Public List applies to England and Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland have separate regulatory arrangements. |
| Is Public List status the only check that matters? | No. Labelling, ingredients, product identity, controlled-cannabinoid rules and other legal requirements remain separate. |
What is a novel food?
A novel food is a food or food ingredient without a significant history of consumption in the UK or EU before 15 May 1997. Novel foods require regulatory assessment and authorisation before they can be placed on the market under the relevant framework.
The Food Standards Agency's current CBD guidance confirms that CBD extracts, CBD isolates, synthetic CBD and foods to which they are added are classed as novel foods. The same guidance distinguishes these from certain hemp-derived foods with an established history of consumption, including hemp seeds and hemp seed oil.
This is one reason why CBD oil and hemp seed oil should not be treated as interchangeable. Hemp seed oil can be a conventional food ingredient or the carrier in a CBD oil, while deliberately adding CBD extract or isolate changes the regulatory context.
For the current official position, see the FSA CBD guidance on GOV.UK.
Why does the CBD Public List exist?
The UK CBD food market was already established before the novel-food application process caught up with the category. The FSA therefore adopted a proportionate enforcement approach in England and Wales for certain products that were already on the market and linked to credible applications.
Under the FSA's current guidance, products on the list are linked to applications that met three core timing and progress criteria:
- the product was on the market by 13 February 2020;
- an authorisation application covering it was received by 31 March 2021; and
- the application was validated or was agreed to be sufficiently progressing towards validation.
The list therefore answers a specific regulatory-status question. It does not replace a full product assessment by the shopper, retailer or regulator.
Public List does not mean “FSA approved”
This is the most important distinction in the whole guide.
The FSA has described products on the Public List as tolerated CBD food products linked to applications moving through the novel-food process. It also states that products on the Public List are not formally authorised simply by being listed and that inclusion is no guarantee of future authorisation.
So, if you see a retailer or brand use phrases such as “FSA approved CBD”, ask what they actually mean. A more precise statement may be that a particular product is listed on the FSA's CBD Public List or linked to a progressing novel-food application.
That precision is better for customers because it separates:
- Public List status — the product's position within the FSA's current enforcement framework in England and Wales;
- novel-food authorisation — a formal regulatory decision on a novel food and its permitted conditions of use;
- product quality — which depends on the actual product, specification, manufacturing and evidence;
- controlled-cannabinoid compliance — a separate legal issue from novel-food status.
Has the novel-food process moved forward in 2026?
Yes, but the distinction above still matters.
In September 2026, updated government material on the first three CBD novel-food applications explained that they had progressed through safety assessment and that the FSA had prepared recommendations for ministerial consideration. The formal determination on authorisation sits with the relevant ministers rather than being created by Public List status itself.
That means shoppers should be cautious with old articles that describe the regulatory position as permanently frozen. The process is moving, and the status of applications and linked products can change.
This guide reflects the position in September 2026. For anything time-sensitive, use the official sources linked here rather than relying on a static screenshot or an old retailer claim.
How to check whether a CBD food product appears on the Public List
The FSA provides a searchable register of CBD products linked to novel-food applications. When checking a product, use the most specific information available rather than searching only the brand name.
Useful details include:
- the exact product name;
- brand or supplier;
- strength or product variant where shown;
- CBD ID or application reference where supplied;
- whether the entry is shown as validated, awaiting evidence, removed or another current status.
You can search the official FSA CBD products register. Because the register is updated, checking the live entry is more useful than relying on a number quoted in an older blog post.
What if a product is not on the Public List?
For England and Wales, the FSA's current guidance says products that do not appear on the list, or that are marked as removed, should be withdrawn from the market. It also explains that a validated application is not enough to place a new CBD food product on the market if that product was not already eligible under the established framework.
This is one reason catalogue claims need to be product-specific. A brand having some listed products does not automatically prove that every strength, flavour, pack size or later product from that brand has the same status.
At The CBD Hut, we avoid turning a brand-level statement into a blanket product claim. Where regulatory status matters, the exact product should be checked against the current official information.
Does the Public List apply in Scotland and Northern Ireland?
No — not in the same way.
The FSA Public List described in this guide applies to England and Wales. Scotland's novel-food regulation is overseen by Food Standards Scotland, while Northern Ireland operates under a different regulatory framework for novel foods.
The FSA's current CBD guidance states that CBD food products in Northern Ireland are unauthorised novel foods under the applicable EU framework unless the relevant authorisation route is satisfied. Government material also notes that the England-and-Wales Public List does not itself apply to Scotland or Northern Ireland.
For a UK ecommerce shopper, this is a useful reminder not to treat “UK CBD regulation” as one single database or one identical rule set in every nation.
Public List status is separate from CBD strength guidance
A product's place on the Public List does not tell you how much CBD you should consume.
The FSA currently advises healthy adults to limit CBD from food to 10mg per day in total. It also advises against CBD for people in vulnerable groups unless under medical direction, including under-18s, people taking medication, people trying to conceive, and people who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Current business guidance also tells immunosuppressed consumers to consult a healthcare professional.
Our CBD Strength & Serving Guide explains how to read product strength and serving information without turning manufacturer directions into personalised advice.
Public List status is also separate from controlled-cannabinoid rules
Novel-food status and controlled-drug law are different questions.
A CBD food can be linked to a novel-food application and still need to satisfy the separate UK rules that apply to controlled cannabinoids. That is why statements such as “under 0.2% THC” should not be treated as a complete finished-product legality test.
The FSA's CBD guidance itself says CBD food products containing controlled cannabinoids must satisfy the relevant exempt-product requirements, and it directs businesses to the Home Office framework.
Our CBD Product Label guide explains why CBD type, total CBD and headline THC wording need to be read separately.
Does a lab report prove Public List status?
No. A certificate of analysis and the Public List answer different questions.
A lab report can show what was measured in the sample submitted to the laboratory, provided the report is relevant to the product or batch. It may include cannabinoid potency and, depending on the testing scope, additional panels.
It does not establish novel-food authorisation or Public List eligibility. Conversely, appearing on the Public List does not tell you what a specific current batch measured in a laboratory.
Use both pieces of information for their proper purpose. Our CBD Lab Report & COA guide explains batch matching, units, LOD/LOQ and test scope. You can also view our Lab Reports area, where reports are shown when supplied by the brand.
What should shoppers check beyond the Public List?
For an ingestible CBD product, use Public List information as one part of a wider check:
- Exact product identity: make sure you are looking at the right strength, flavour, size and format.
- Total CBD and unit information: check the whole-product amount and CBD per unit or stated serving where supplied.
- Ingredients: review carrier oils, sweeteners, flavourings, capsule materials and other active ingredients.
- CBD type: full spectrum, broad spectrum or isolate where stated, while remembering that these are composition labels rather than legal guarantees.
- Traceability: look for batch or lot information and relevant date marking.
- Lab information: review a matching report where supplied by the brand.
- Current FSA guidance: consider the 10mg/day advice for CBD from food.
If you are comparing formats, browse CBD Oils & Tinctures, CBD Gummies & Edibles or CBD Capsules & Tablets and use the product information on each page rather than relying on a single badge or phrase.
Common Public List myths
| Claim | More accurate interpretation |
|---|---|
| “It is FSA approved.” | Public List inclusion is not the same as formal novel-food authorisation or endorsement. |
| “The whole brand is on the list.” | Status needs to be checked against the specific product entries and linked application information. |
| “The list proves the product is THC-free.” | No. Controlled cannabinoids are a separate issue and require product-specific evidence and legal compliance. |
| “A COA proves novel-food status.” | No. A COA records laboratory results for a sample; it does not create regulatory authorisation. |
| “The Public List is the same across all four UK nations.” | No. The FSA list applies to England and Wales; Scotland and Northern Ireland have different arrangements. |
Final checklist: what does an FSA Public List entry actually tell you?
A Public List entry can help you establish that a CBD food product is linked to a novel-food application within the FSA's current England-and-Wales framework. It is useful regulatory context, but it is not a shortcut around the rest of the product check.
Before buying an ingestible CBD product, ask:
- Am I checking the exact product rather than only the brand?
- Is its current Public List status clear where that framework applies?
- Have I avoided treating “listed” as “formally authorised” or “FSA approved”?
- Does the label clearly state CBD content, size, ingredients and important information?
- Is a relevant lab report available where supplied by the brand?
- Have I considered the FSA's current 10mg/day consumer advice across all CBD food products I might use?
The useful rule is simple: treat the Public List as regulatory-status information, not as a universal quality badge. The best product comparison combines current official status with clear labels, traceable product information and relevant evidence.
Information only — not medical or legal advice. Regulatory guidance and product status can change; check current official sources and the latest product information before buying.
