France bans CBD food products and dietary supplements

As of May 15, 2026, the sale of food products containing cannabidiol (CBD) is prohibited in France. This ban, enforced by the Direction générale de l’alimentation (DGAL), affects items such as sublingual oils sold as dietary supplements, gummies, capsules, chocolates, beverages, and infusions made from hemp flower tops.

The decision is not a new law but a strict application of existing European Union regulations. Under the ‘Novel Food’ framework established in 1997, any food ingredient not significantly consumed in the EU before 1997 requires prior authorization. Since no CBD-containing food products have obtained this EU-wide authorization, the DGAL has ended its previous tolerance of these sales.

The shift follows a scientific opinion released several months ago by the European Food Safety Authority.