A “one-stop shop”: ACI launches Green Bridge Gateway for UK and EU’s CBD market

05 Dec 2023 --- The Association for the Cannabinoid Industry (ACI) has formed the Green Bridge Gateway, composed of the Global Regulatory Services (GRS), ADSL, Shweed and US-based Chem ID. The network of service providers will pool its global cannabinoid (CBD) expertise to benefit the UK and EU CBD market.

“This first ‘one-stop shop’ exists to support market entry for the UK and EU and will provide access to regulatory advice, toxicology data, supply chain expertise, lab testing and track and trace blockchain technology,” Steve Moore, co-founder of ACI, tells Nutrition Insight.

“We will provide all the required expertise to meet regulatory and licensing requirements across the UK and EU with a special focus on consumer cannabinoids and ‘novel foods’ compliance.”

The network will harness know-how in manufacturing, cloud-based technology, regulatory affairs and quality compliance to help companies navigate the various industries where CBD products are used.

Chemical data management and NPD
A legal framework and regulatory regime has gradually been taking shape in the UK and EU and is likely to be settled by April 2024, according to ACI. Establishing a clear legal framework is regarded as the most critical step for the industry at this point. Industry players have urged the government to implement this for the last few years.

In October, the UK Home Office provided recommendations for the creation of a legal framework for consumer CBD products that contain controlled cannabinoids.

Before that, CBD companies established the “Save Our CBD” campaign to urge the Home Office to develop a legal framework for selling CBD products. The campaign called for legal clarity for the products, which have been sold online and commercially for ten years without formal regulation.

“Clarity about the legal framework, which is the final stages of being put in place to agree to limits of the presence of controlled cannabinoids, is of utmost importance,” Moore concurs.Green Bridge Gateway will oversee CBD market entry into the UK and EU.

Green Bridge Gateway champions CBD traceability and transparency and will help companies through regulatory matters and testing requirements. The network will provide key services such as new product development, supply chain management and business development guidance.

“This partnership will provide expert guidance to help any business with ambitions to expand into one or both territories, with the confidence that every regulatory requirement will be met,” says Moore.

ACI has supported 18 novel food applications covering 3000 CBD products to date.

“The development of cannabis and its extracts for health and wellness falls within the scope of a number of different authorities, so it’s no wonder that companies with a vast product portfolio find it a challenge to be compliant with all the requirements,” explains Greer Deal, co-founder and director of GRS.

“This initiative is a much-needed alliance of companies offering diverse expertise to address and overcome the complexities of this sector. I’m delighted that GRS is part of this initiative, which is a great example of what can be achieved through collaboration.”

Market entry
Green Bridge Gateway’s services will allow legal cannabis companies worldwide to secure market entry to the UK and EU.

“Shweed is an experienced B2B intermediary within international medical cannabis and consumer cannabinoid supply chains. Our model has been refined over years, in order to support clients with entering new markets and develop revenue-generating sales opportunities,” notes Christopher Messina, CEO of Shweed.

“We are pleased to offer our services alongside the wider Green Bridge Gateway team.”

Meanwhile, CBD is on track to be integrated into bread, cereal, ice cream and other common foodstuffs to create a whole new functional food and supplement market, following a green light from the UK’s Food Standards Agency.

In addition, the ACI and the Centre for Medicinal Cannabis partnered with Chem ID to improve the authenticity and quality of commercial cannabis extract and medical cannabis markets in the UK and Europe.

By Inga de Jong

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