The Health Department of New York City recently revealed that it would start fining restaurants who will stubbornly sell CBD products after September. According to the letter given to restaurant owners, businesses were notified that the prohibition on CBD goods effectively begins on July 1. From the 2nd of July, inspectors who discover CBD items at restaurants will consider them as an embargo, eliminating them from selling and pushing the restaurant to remove the items. According to a report from CNBC, which has obtained a copy of the email, Starting October 1, restaurants caught in possession of CBD products be fined.
A spokesperson of the health department acknowledged the details of the email sent to business owners in New York City in a statement to CNBC.
According to the spokesperson, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has ban the sale of cannabidiol (CBD) infused food or drink. He also said they are presently telling New York City businesses to stop selling cannabis-infused food and beverages. Furthermore, educational programs have been established to help them achieve compliance.
As per FDA regulations, it is illegal to sell drug infused foods and drinks. CBD is not exempted from the rule. Despite the legalization of hemp in the 2018 Farm Bill, the rule still stands, and the FDA is currently seeking legal pathways to put CBD products into the market.
At the beginning of the month, a spokesperson for the NYC health department declared that CBD would not be permitted in foods and beverages sold at restaurants in New York City.
The spokesperson said that eatery in New York City is not allowed to add drugs into food or drink. She also said that the Health Department is responsible for protecting the health of New Yorkers. Restaurants are not allowed to sell CBD infused products until the compound is deemed safe as a food additive.
The owner of a restaurant in Manhattan, CJ holm who was selling CBD treats before health department inspectors banned the products said her store was visited by inspectors who asked her a lot of questions. She said the inspectors made false statements and took her CBD products without any explanation. She also said that the visit was random and she later called the Department of Health three times for clarification, but no one knew the meaning of CBD.
Recently, the health department called Holm and informed her that the cookies had been released from embargo.
Furthermore, the FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb received a letter from twelve members of Congress who were calling on the agency to show some respect on the issue.
According to the letter, the members of the congress called on the FDA to quickly assist legal pathways for food products infused with hemp-derived CBD in interstate commerce. The members of the congress also called for immediate leadership from the Federal Government to remove the uncertainty surrounding the issue.
The members also requested a fast response from Gottlieb, telling him to reply with immediate effect.
