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.
The court said an organic label could mislead shoppers into thinking CBD foods had been approved for sale.
What is CBD, and why does it need approval?
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.
The court noted that CBD has not yet received that authorization, although it did not say that it was unsafe.
CBD is also found in medical marijuana, but the ruling concerns its use in food rather than medicines.
What does that mean for organic certification?
The court said meeting organic production standards did not remove the need for market authorization.
"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.
The restriction also covers products intended for export outside the EU.
Medical cannabis: Helpful or overhyped?
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
The ruling concerns CBD-based or CBD-enriched foods that lack EU market authorization, rather than all cannabis-derived foods.
Some cannabis-derived foods, such as hemp seeds and ordinary hemp seed oil, can legally be sold and certified organic if they meet the relevant standards.
Why did the case reach the court?
France's organic farming regulator, INAO, told certification bodies that CBD-based products and CBD-enriched foods could not be certified organic. It also barred CBD as an ingredient in certified organic foods, while exempting hemp oil not enriched with CBD.
A hemp industry association challenged those restrictions before France's Council of State, which referred the case to the EU court.
The French court must now resolve the dispute in line with the EU court's interpretation.