Update 15.06.2020
Is CBD oil legal in Europe?
CBD Poland | CBD Poland | Yes
Let me start by saying that Poland cbd full spectrum hemp oil is a legal preparation.
CBD oil is legal in Poland as long as it is extracted from industrial hemp, concentration THC does not exceed 0.2%.
There is a list of guidelines in the form of the Opinion of the Committee on Food Safety and Nutrition on the safety of the use of hemp seed in food due to the presence of THC and CBD. It indicates, among other things, that the manufacturer is responsible for the safety of the foodstuff.
Since 2017, Polish authorities have also legalised medicinal cannabis. Poland is also known as one of the most prosperous countries for growing hemp and exporting CBD products. You can buy CBD in various health food and alternative medicine shops, and it is also available in apothecaries and online CBD hemp shops.
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CBD Albania | Shqipëri CBD | No
Cannabis and any derived products are illegal in Albania. However, plants are present throughout the country and the law is usually not enforced. People using cannabis for personal use are not usually prosecuted. However, the current law allows for this possibility. For this reason, CBD oil should be considered illegal in Albania and it is not worth the risk to transport it into the country.
CBD Austria | CBD Österreich | Yes, on prescription
Possession of cannabis was decriminalised in January 2016. However, the Austrian Ministry of Health recently issued a ban on the sale of all food and cosmetic products containing CBD, unless dispensed through a doctor. Without a prescription, the CBD product will be confiscated. Despite this, CBD oil is still available for purchase as an aromatic oil that is 'not intended for human consumption' in some Austrian shops.
CBD Belarus | CBD Беларусь | No
Belarus has some of the most restrictive laws in the whole of Europe, and the use of recreational and medical hemp is completely illegal. Under the law, there is no difference between cannabis and industrial hemp, and anyone caught growing hemp and selling CBD can be sentenced to up to five years in prison. Discussions on the legalisation of cannabis and CBD are ongoing and intensified after the neighbouring country Poland legalised medical marijuana, but there is still no change in the law.
CBD Belgium | CBD België | Yes, on prescription
Cannabis is illegal in Belgium. It has been decriminalised for adults over the age of 18 for possession of up to 3 grams. Medicines of cannabis origin are legal for medical use, such as Sativex. Belgium has a very low prosecution rate for possession of cannabis and the country is known for the fact that CBD products have been available there for many years online and in health food shops, among others. So the use of CBD technically requires a prescription because of a law passed in 1912. However, this law is not enforced.
11 April 2019. The Federal Public Finance Authority (FPS Finance) has announced that CBD flowers with a THC content of less than 0.2% are now considered tobacco products. Under the new regulation, cannabis flowers are taxed like tobacco. From August 2019. CBD (ointment, pills and oil) is available in pharmacies with a doctor's prescription. Despite the ban, online purchase of CBD is still common in Belgium.
CBD Bosnia and Herzegovina | Bosna and Hercegovina CBD | No
Although the country's government has set up a special commission to explore the possibility of legalising cannabis products for medical purposes, all cannabis varieties and by-products are still illegal there.
CBD Bulgaria | CBD България | Yes
Bulgaria is the first country in Europe to allow the free sale of CBD products made from hemp. This means that it is not classified as a supplement or medicine as in the rest of Europe, but as a food. CBD is completely legal in Bulgaria with THC below 0.2%.
In Bulgaria, hemp cultivation is legal under government-issued licences. Despite being a member of the EU, Bulgaria decided to bypass the classification of new CBD food, allowing it to be imported and sold legally in June 2019. Processing hemp for CBD is still illegal. Although the legal limit for THC in hemp plants is less than 0.2%, there is no specific threshold for THC in hemp-derived CBD oil.
CBD Croatia | CBD hrvatska | Yes
Medical marijuana is legal in Croatia by prescription. Possession of recreational cannabis is decriminalised, and possession of small amounts for personal use can result in a fine at most. All cannabis and CBD-related products are legal in Croatia, as long as they have less than 0.2% THC. High-grade CBD oil with certified THC content can be imported, possessed and purchased locally there.
CBD Cyprus | CBD Cyprus | Yes
CBD is legal if it comes from industrial hemp and the THC concentration does not exceed 0.2% at any point in production. A trip to Cyprus is safe with CBD bought in Poland.
CBD Czech Republic | CBD Česká Republika | Yes
Recreational cannabis is decriminalised. Possession of up to 10g and cultivation of up to 5 plants is subject to a fine. The law states that any cannabis or industrial hemp product that contains less than 0.3% THC is legal, so CBD oil can be sold, possessed and consumed openly in the Czech Republic.
Czech law defines hemp as cannabis with a THC content not exceeding 0.3% dry weight. A person may cultivate hemp on an area of 100 m2 without government approval. Hemp extracts and tinctures are included in Annex 1 of Government Regulation No. 463/2013 Coll. on the list of addictive substances. However, there is a loophole in Czech law that many CBD companies take advantage of - pure CBD is not a classified substance; therefore, it is not completely illegal. Pure CBD (without THC) is tolerated in the Czech Republic and widely available on the market. In October 2015. The Ministry of Health introduced a new regulation to expand the existing medical marijuana programme. The plan includes removing restrictions on THC and CBD in cannabis strains, so the cannabinoid content can range from 0.3% to 21% THC and 0.3% to 19% CBD. You can buy medical CBD by prescription from licensed pharmacies.
CBD Denmark | CBD Danmark | No
When it comes to having CBD in Denmark, the answer is quite complicated and not obvious. As of July 2018, CBD oil containing less than 0.2% THC is legal, but subject to strict regulations for medicines and dietary supplements. Due to the Danish authorities' interpretation of these regulations, it should be considered that all CBD products from outside the country are probably illegal, even if they contain less than 0.2% THC.
As a Danish resident (citizen or resident), you can apply to participate in the pilot programme made available in January 2018 allowing you to use cannabis preparations made from industrial or cannabis. However, you must have a prescription from a licensed health care provider. There is no indication that prescriptions from other countries are or will be respected.
In July 2018. The Danish Ministry of Health amended the Executive Order on euphoric substances, which legalised cannabis products up to 0.2% THC. This makes hemp-derived CBD legal for over-the-counter purchases. Despite the unrestricted status of CBD, Danish law is not as straightforward as it seems. On the contrary, the regulation on CBD is complex and involves several authorities. However, the restrictions apply to CBD companies and producers, not buyers - you can legally buy CBD online in Denmark.
CBD Estonia | Esti CBD | Yes
Recreational cannabis is decriminalised. Possession of up to 7.5g is subject to a fine. Large quantities of cannabis and its distribution are illegal. Medical forms of cannabis are available with a permit. The interpretation of Estonian law indicates that CBD products are legal. Therefore, CBD oil with less than 0.2% THC is perfectly legal for sale, consumption and possession when travelling to Estonia.
According to the Act on Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances and their Precursors, CBD is not considered a psychoactive substance in Estonia and is therefore legal. In accordance with the EU Novel Food Regulation, the Estonian Veterinary and Food Board (VFB) has announced that CBD products cannot be sold as food (including food supplements) from 1 June 2019. The Estonian Medicines Agency confirms on its website that CBD has no psychotropic effects and is not on the list of narcotics and psychotropic substances. Estonia has allowed the medical use of hemp and its processing products such as resin, extracts and tinctures since 2005. Medical CBD can be obtained with a doctor's prescription. Loopholes in Estonian law place CBD in a legal grey area.
CBD Finland | CBD Suomi | Yes, on prescription
CBD is legal in Finland, but any products containing CBD are classified as medicines, so they can only be purchased with a prescription from a doctor. Cannabis products are illegal and although the law is not strictly enforced the penalties for possession of even small amounts of cannabis can be very severe.
CBD in Finland is subject to several national and EU regulations. Each authority regulates the marketing of CBD, depending on the claims and purpose of the CBD product
- The Finnish Medicines Agency (Fimea) considers CBD to be a prescription drug.
- Finnish Customs (Tulli) cooperate with Fimea and can seize CBD products if they consider it a medicine. The import of medical CBD without a prescription is prohibited.
- The Finnish Food Safety Authority (Evira) is complying with the EU Novel Food Regulation.
There are several loopholes in Finnish law and many CBD shops use them to sell legally. However, importing CBD can be illegal and imported products can be seized. It all depends on how customs treats your product and what brand sells its products. Currently, CBD in Finland is stuck in a legal grey area under government restrictions.
CBD France | CBD France | Yes
Yes, it is legal. However, the French government reports that even the slightest trace of THC in CBD would make it illegal. Therefore, only CBD with 0% THC is legal for sale, possession and consumption there.
In France, cannabis with 0.2% THC is permitted for cultivation. Until recently, France allowed CBD products with 0.2% to be sold without a prescription. However, the French authorities decided to change the regulations governing this cannabinoid, banning the presence of THC in any CBD end product. Currently, CBD is only legal if you buy products with CBD isolate. The laws are constantly changing putting CBD supplements in a precarious position.
CBD Germany | CBD Deutschland | Yes, on prescription
CBD preparations and medical marijuana are legal substances in Germany. They are only available by prescription for registered users. Some CBD products are not classified as medicines. This applies to products such as hemp tea and full spectrum hemp oil, as long as the THC is less than 0.2%. Such products can be sold, bought and possessed. Dried CBD is illegal.
You can buy CBD products with a THC content of less than 0.2% THC without a prescription. German law does not allow the sale of CBD products containing health claims.
If you need medical CBD, you can get a prescription from your doctor and buy CBD from a licensed pharmacy.
CBD Greece | CBD Ελλάδα | Yes
CBD is legal if it comes from industrial hemp and the THC concentration does not exceed 0.2% at any point in production. You can travel to Greece with full spectrum CBD oil.
CBD oil and CBD products in Greece are legal if they comply with the EU rule of less than 0.2% THC content. The cultivation of industrial hemp in Greece is completely legal.
CBD Hungary | CBD Magyarország | Yes
CBD is legal if it comes from industrial hemp and the THC concentration does not exceed 0.2% at any point in production. You can travel to Hungary with full spectrum CBD oil.
Cannabis with a THC content not exceeding 0.2% is legal in Hungary.
Until recently, the sale of CBD was not defined or mentioned in Hungarian law. Companies took advantage of this loophole to sell various CBD products. Over the past few years, the Hungarian CBD market has flourished, attracting the attention of the national authorities.
Currently, the National Institute of Pharmacy and Nutrition (OÉGYI) has included several CBD products on its list of dietary supplements, all of which contain non-recommended or prohibited claims. Currently, there is no approved CBD-based medicine in Hungary and these products cannot be labelled with health claims. In addition, the active ingredients of CBD products must be indicated on the packaging and their content must not differ by more than +/- 10% from the declared content. CBD manufacturers must report their products to OÉGYI. If the authority deems a product to be 'unpredictable', it will give it a non-recommended status until the test is completed, and then block it or allow it to be sold, depending on the test results. Many local shops continue to sell CBD products even while they wait for approval from the authorities. CBD products are widely available online.
CBD Iceland | CBD Iceland | Yes
There is no specific legislation in Iceland regarding the production and sale of CBD. However, the Icelandic authorities do not distinguish between cannabis and industrial hemp, so CBD should be considered illegal in Iceland. In fact, many small Icelandic companies sell CBD hemp oil including cbd full spectrum oil.
CBD is not completely banned in Iceland, but it is very limited. The main problem with CBD in Iceland is that there is no specific law defining its legal status. Hemp cultivation is allowed as long as the THC content of the plant does not exceed 0.2%. THC is illegal, making all cannabis-based products prohibited in Iceland. However, CBD isolates (99% CBD) are THC-free and therefore legal. The Icelandic Medicines Agency considers CBD to be illegal (except when used as a prescribed medicine). According to the authorities, the Narcotics Act No. 65/1974 does not include limits on THC in cannabis products, making the possession and use of hemp substances (including THC) prohibited. Importing CBD into Iceland may be illegal, especially if the product contains health claims. The importation of CBD food is prohibited.
CBD Ireland | CBD Ireland | Yes
CBD is legal in Ireland. However, there are regulations stating that only CBD oil extracted from cold pressing is legal and that even the slightest trace of THC in CBD oil makes it illegal. Despite this, CBD preparations derived from other extraction methods are widely and seamlessly available there. THC in products is not tolerated and is subject to control. The Irish government is currently reviewing legislation and considering the possibility of decriminalising recreational cannabis.
Ireland has CBD in the legal grey market. Industrial hemp with 0.2% THC or less is permitted. However, the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977 states that all cannabis derivatives - including hemp - containing any traces of THC are illegal. CBD isolates should be legal because they do not contain THC. But the Irish government is complying with the European Commission's new rule on novel foods, so CBD products cannot be sold as food or supplements.
The Irish Food Safety Authority (FSAI) says CBD isolates extracted with solvents or CO2 cannot be sold in the EU without European Commission approval for novel foods. This approval would provide evidence that the CBD isolate is free of harmful substances. Irish police have raided stationary shops, often confiscating CBD products. However, stationary shops in Ireland continue to sell CBD isolate products. Online shops offer both CBD isolate and full-spectrum CBD.
CBD Italy | CBD Italia | Yes
The cultivation of hemp and the production and sale of CBD oil are legal in Italy, provided that the THC content of the total production is no more than 0.6%. The Italian Supreme Court announced in June 2019 that this legislation does not apply to hemp for smoking. Therefore, the sale of dried hemp with a THC content also below 0.6% is not legal in Italy.
In Italy, cannabis with 0.2% THC is completely legal. The law allows variations of THC levels up to 0.6%. Until recently, CBD oils with less than 0.6% THC and no CBD limit were sold on every corner. At the end of May 2019. The Italian Court of Appeal amended the law to exclude hemp leaves, flowers, resin and oil from the legal framework. The amended law banned the sale of many commonly sold cannabis derivatives including CBD oil. However, the law is not clearly defined, as it says that the sale and marketing of products derived from Cannabis sativa L. is an offence under Italy's drug control law, unless the products are free of intoxicating chemicals. The meaning of this exemption has not yet been defined, leaving CBD in a grey area.
Medical cannabis and CBD are available on prescription from a doctor and can be purchased from licensed pharmacies.
CBD Latvia | CBD Latwija | Yes
CBD is legal if it comes from industrial hemp and the THC concentration does not exceed 0.2% at any point in production. You can travel to Latvia with full spectrum CBD oil.
CBD in Latvia is in a legal grey area. The Food and Veterinary Service **** (FVS) does not allow the sale and marketing of CBD as food or dietary supplements, but officials say that if it is sold as a souvenir, there is no violation of the law. Officials also say that CBD is subject to a number of laws, including the Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act. However, CBD is not explicitly banned and the cultivation of hemp is legal which leaves it possible for sellers to sell the product legally to some extent. Some local shops in Riga sell imported CBD oil and hemp flowers, labelling them as 'souvenirs'. The shop owners cannot technically prove that the products are souvenirs. On the other hand, some retailers claim that it is not up to them how buyers use the product.
CBD Lithuania | CBD Lietuva | Yes
CBD is legal if it is derived from industrial hemp and the THC concentration does not exceed 0.2% at any time during production.
Lithuania allows the cultivation of hemp with a THC content of less than 0.2%, but only for seeds (food) and fibre. In January 2019. State officials proposed a new regulation that would allow the sale and use of cannabis with less than 0.2% THC. The Lithuanian law is in line with the European Commission's Novel Foods Regulation, meaning that it does not allow the sale of CBD foods. For now, the only legal hemp products are hemp seed oil, flour and hemp protein.
CBD Luxembourg | CBD Lëtzebuerg | Yes
CBD is legal if it comes from industrial hemp and the THC concentration does not exceed 0.3% at any point in production. You can travel to Luxembourg with full spectrum CBD oil.
Liechtenstein considers any cannabis product to be a prohibited drug if its average THC level is at least 1%. The cultivation of cannabis with less than 1% is legal in Liechtenstein. There is no specific legislation prohibiting CBD, which means that CBD with less than 1% THC can be considered legal.
CBD Malta | CBD Malta | Yes, on prescription
Even recreational cannabis has been decriminalised. Possession of up to 3.5 grams for personal recreational use is allowed. Medical marijuana is also legal. CBD oil is classified as a form of medical cannabis and is only available by prescription.
Although CBD in Malta is only legal with a doctor's prescription, many shops sell CBD products without a prescription. Interestingly, the state authorities 'overlook' these activities, leaving CBD in a legal grey area. CBD can be purchased without a prescription in health food shops.
CBD Netherlands | CBD Nederland | Yes
CBD is legal, but CBD oil with CBD in isolate form is illegal in the Netherlands due to a specification in the law indicating that cannabinoids cannot be isolated from the hemp plant. Despite this, CBD oil is seamlessly and widely available in the Netherlands and the legislation is not enforced.
CBD Norway | CBD Norge | Yes
In Norway, CBD is only legal as a medicine that patients can buy by prescription. THC content is limited to 1% or less. Any other use and private importation of CBD oil is illegal.
CBD Portugal | CBD Portugal | Yes, on prescription
Recreational cannabis is decriminalised up to 25g and medical cannabis is legal in Portugal by prescription. Until mid-2018, CBD oil in Portugal could be purchased as a dietary supplement. After the regulation of Law 33/2018, approved in June 2018, the classification of CBD has changed. Under the new law, CBD oil is now a medicine - it is only available in pharmacies. Patients do not need a medical licence, but must have a prescription. CBD oil is considered a medicine and technically only available on prescription from a doctor. In practice, CBD supplements are widely available throughout the country, including through numerous online shops finding their way into the so-called legal grey market.
CBD Romania | CBD România | Yes
Recreational cannabis is illegal and medical forms are available as long as the THC concentration is less than 0.2%. The Romanian government does not regulate the source of CBD in hemp products, so unlike in most EU countries - CBD can also be extracted from cannabis. CBD oil is legal in Romania as it contains less than 0.2% THC. Cannabis is subject to two laws; one is Law No. 339/2005. This law allows the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MADR) to authorise the cultivation of industrial hemp if the process complies with EU regulations. As a hemp derivative, CBD with a THC concentration of less than 0.2% is completely legal in this member state.
CBD Russia | кбд Россия | No
Cannabis cultivation is legal in Russia, but any extraction involving the removal or isolation of cannabinoids is illegal. It appears that some vendors are selling CBD oil even though it is formally illegal in Russia.
CBD Serbia | Србија ЦБД | No
Serbia produces cannabis with a THC concentration of 0.2%. CBD is marketed and widely used, and its demand is growing. However, the country does not have a regulatory framework for cannabinoids, which affects product development and safety in the CBD market. In July 2019, the government's Controlled Psychoactive Substances Commission proposed a ban on the cultivation, import and export of cannabis used to produce CBD - cannabis will be allowed for scientific research and contract manufacturing for authorised pharmaceutical companies producing Epidiolex (a CBD-based prescription medication used to treat epileptic seizures). The legislative proposal is still pending and CBD in Serbia remains in a legal grey area.
CBD Slovakia | CBD Slovensko | No
One of the strictest countries in Europe for cannabis possession, even a small amount of cannabis can result in 8 years in prison. Slovak law states that CBD is psychoactive, so the production, sale and possession of any CBD product is legally prohibited and punishable. More than a decade and a half ago, Slovakia classified CBD as a Group 2 drug under the Psychotropic Substances Act. The rule has not changed despite attempts by some politicians to decriminalise cannabis.
CBD Slovenia | CBD Slovenija | Yes
CBD is legal if it comes from industrial hemp and the THC concentration does not exceed 0.2% at any point in production. You can travel to Slovenia with Purehemp's full spectrum CBD oil. Under Slovenian law, both the cultivation of industrial hemp and the extraction of derivatives such as CBD oil are legal. The limit for THC in the dry plant is 0.3% and the limit for THC in CBD oil is less than 0.2%.
CBD Spain | CBD España | Yes
Growing hemp for personal use is legal. By law, no hemp product (including hemp oil with CBD) can be bought or sold in Spain as a food product. CBD oil is legally authorised for sale as a cosmetic product. Despite this, consumable CBD hemp oil is widely available and used in Spain, and preparations are labelled with the warning 'for external use only'. Of course, CBD products must contain less than 0.2% THC.
CBD derived from industrial hemp and complying with the EU limit of 0.2% THC is legal to purchase and use. If CBD is produced in Spain, it can only be sold as a 'technical product' or 'product for external use'. The only CBD products that can be legally purchased in Spain are products for skin care or the treatment of different types of skin diseases (cosmetics and topicals).
After the European Commission created new regulations on novel foods, AECOSAN (Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition), together with the Ministry of Health, announced that all companies producing and distributing CBD for human consumption must stop marketing and selling their products until the EU regulates the legal status. CBD is not on the Spanish Medicines and Health Products Agency's list of approved dietary supplements. Many CBD shop owners continue to sell food products containing CBD, but this is illegal. AECOSAN prohibits online purchases of CBD products marketed as health food for human consumption.
CBD Sweden | CBD Sverige | Yes
CBD is legal. However, the Swedish government reports that even the slightest trace of THC in CBD products would make them illegal. Therefore, only CBD products with 0% THC are allowed for consumption in Sweden. The sale of CBD preparations is regulated and requires obtaining the relevant licence from the Medical Products Agency.
CBD Switzerland | CBD Suisse - CBD Schweiz | Yes
Swiss regulations for recreational cannabis are lenient, with up to 10g allowed for personal use. Hemp preparations such as CBD oil are legal if they contain less than 1.0% THC. You can travel safely to Switzerland with Purehemp's full spectrum CBD oil.
Switzerland is often referred to as the 'central CBD centre of Europe', which says a lot about the country. The regulations regarding the cultivation of cannabis and the production of various CBD products are organised with Swiss precision. Cannabis cultivation is legal, but THC levels cannot exceed 1%. There is no limit on CBD or other compounds. There are also no restrictions on varieties, and the growth and development of different species stimulates the Swiss CBD business. Cannabis products and CBD oil are available in shops and online.
CBD Ukraine | CBD Україна Yes
CBD is legal. However, the Ukrainian government reports that even the slightest trace of THC in CBD products would make it illegal. Therefore, only CBD products with 0% THC are legal for sale and consumption.
Ukraine allows the use, sale and marketing of CBD products with minimum levels of THC. Ukraine is not an EU Member State, but has signed an Association Agreement with the Union, which simplifies trade relations between the two parties.
No specific THC limit was mentioned, but it is unlikely to exceed 0.2% as Ukraine cooperates and awaits EU entry.
CBD England – CBD UK | CBD Great Britain - CBD England | Yes
CBD oil is legal. However, the UK government suggests that even the slightest trace of THC in CBD products would make them illegal. Therefore, only CBD products with 0% THC are legal to sell in the UK.
Pure CBD in the UK is not a controlled substance. In other words, only hemp products based on CBD isolate are perfectly legal. The UK allows the cultivation of hemp with 0.2% THC or less, but final products for personal use must contain less than 1 mg total THC per bottle. Medical CBD, on the other hand, can contain THC but can only be obtained with a doctor's prescription. Cannabis and CBD are subject to several regulations, and laws regarding CBD products may vary.
Summary of article "Is CBD legal in Europe?"
In the vast majority of countries, CBD including CBD oil is legal. However, individual countries differ in their regulations. These differences may be minor, stuck in the details, but are of very significant importance. Check the wording of the local regulations carefully before making any decisions such as travelling with the oil for personal use or transporting CBD oil commercially to any of the countries mentioned above.
You can also read about travelling with CBD oil in the article "CBD oil at the airport and on air travel".
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