The mismatch between UK law and regulations in Jersey, the largest of the Channel Islands and a self-governing British Crown Dependency, is wreaking havoc on the CBD market.
hemp jumpermanufacturer of broad spectrum CBD products and the only licensed CBD producer in the British Isles, Announced are considering challenging the UK government in court after their products were deemed illegal to import, causing some of their operations to halt.
Jersey is the first place in the British and Irish Isles to legalize hemp operations. Since CBD products contain trace amounts of THC, the UK Home Office declared Jersey Hemp products to be controlled substances that cannot be imported into the UK.
But Jersey Hemp representatives said they have done their best to ensure your products comply with the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA), only to stop exporting products to the UK. They added that it would mean that all other CBD imports are illegal, as they contain traces of THC.
Jersey Hemp received a license to grow hemp, some intended for CBD, in 2019, and the Jersey government supported the operation.
“The directive unfairly singles out Jersey Hemp, excluding them from importing their products into the UK market, while allowing unlicensed CBD products from around the world to freely enter the UK market (as all CBD products are imported into the UK). Despite Jersey Hemp’s active involvement in a painstaking and costly process with the UK Food Standards Agency to establish legal and compliant products for permitted sale in the UK, the UK Home Office’s contradictory stance undermines your efforts”.
Jersey is independent of the UK in respect of trade relations, so import and export licenses are required for goods crossing the border into the mainland. To export cannabis out of Jersey, licenses are required under Jersey law. Misuse of Drugs Act of 1978 and must be obtained for each shipment. In addition, an import license is required “before controlled drugs are imported into the UK”, according to the Home Office.
“Legal experts have confirmed the compliance and legality of Jersey Hemp’s operations, exposing misrepresentation by the UK Home Office,” the announcement continues. “In addition, the existence of a visible and legal CBD industry strengthens Jersey Hemp’s position. If CBD were truly illegal, the UK Home Office would logically ban the import and sale of all CBD products in the UK, rather than point fingers at Jersey Hemp.”
In 2019, private investors such as Bernard Fairman from the UK prospective group venture capital firm, invested £2m ($2.68m) in Jersey Hemp, Hemp Today reported.
Jersey Hemp representatives were not immediately available for comment. there is more or less 3,000 other CBD products in the process of approval by the FSA.
bbc news reports that the news is devastating for Jersey Hemp staff, but that UK leaders stood by the move.
“All companies that are licensed to grow cannabis in Jersey are responsible for ensuring that they comply with the relevant legislation in the jurisdiction to which they export products.” saying Kirsten Morel, Jersey Minister for Economic Development, Tourism, Sport and Culture, and Karen Wilson, Minister for Health and Social Services, in a joint statement. “We are aware that Jersey Hemp is in contact with the HM government regarding exports to the UK; as a separate jurisdiction, we cannot comment on those discussions and would not speculate on their outcome.”
Jersey Hemp products have presumably been on the market in the UK since at least 13 February 2020, as required by UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) rules aimed at clearing up the gray market for CBD that existed before that date. Seven Jersey Hemp CBD products are now going through the FSA safety approval process for novel foods while they remain on sale.
Jersey Hemp provides a number of broad spectrum CBD oil products.
All Jersey Hemp products meet the criteria for exemption from drug designation under the UK Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001. Co-owners David Ryan and Blair Jones said they were forced to halt cultivation and marketing and lay off more than half of its staff.
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