The UK is pushing to maintain higher limits for CBD products in post-Brexit trade negotiations with the EU, seeking to preserve its competitive edge in the growing cannabis market. London wants to continue allowing drinks and food supplements containing up to 10mg of CBD, five times the EU's 2mg daily safety limit.

This dispute centers on the UK's proposed veterinary agreement with Brussels, which would reduce trade barriers but require alignment with EU regulations. The UK is requesting exemptions for 'novel foods' like CBD products and genetically modified organisms to protect post-Brexit innovations. Industry leaders warn that dynamic alignment would make British producers 'subservient' to Brussels-made rules without representation.

The cannabis industry fears Brexit benefits could be lost if forced to comply with stricter EU standards. The UK Food Standards Agency has advised CBD businesses to prepare for potential changes by seeking EU market authorization. While EU officials acknowledge limited exceptions may be possible for animal welfare standards, they maintain that most UK exemption requests conflict with the established 'common understanding' framework.