You're standing with a bottle of CBD oil in your hand, trying to figure out what you should really believe. The label may say "5%", "1000 mg" or "20 drops daily", but it rarely says anything about why the product may not be called a dietary supplement in Denmark. And if you've been following the news, you may have seen headlines about the EU's food authority now setting a safe level of approximately 2 mg of CBD per day - a figure that is significantly lower than what most users actually take. This guide collects what you need to know about CBD novel food Denmark in 2026: why no CBD products have yet been approved as novel foods, what EFSA's updated assessment actually says, and how the products can therefore be legally sold and marketed in this country - without health claims.
In short: the status of CBD as a dietary supplement in 2026
- CBD is classified as a novel food in the EU. Extracts of the hemp plant and products with cannabinoids must be approved before they can be sold as food or dietary supplements.
- There is still no approval. The Commission has received several hundred applications, but none have passed all the way through risk assessment and approval.
- EFSA set a provisional safe level on 9 February 2026 of 0,0275 mg CBD per kg body weight per day – approximately 2 mg daily for a 70 kg adult.
- A safe level is not an approval. The number is a scientific reference point for use in risk assessment, not a permit to sell CBD as a dietary supplement.
- In Denmark, this means in practice: CBD products may not be marketed as food, dietary supplements or with health claims. They are sold in other categories – typically cosmetics, aroma/collectibles and equipment.
What does “novel food” actually mean?
The novel food rules are the EU's safety net for foods that we don't have a history with. The basic principle is simple: if a food or ingredient was not consumed to any significant extent in the EU before 15 May 1997, it must be assessed and approved before it can be sold. This applies to everything from insect protein and novel algae to plant extracts – and that includes CBD.
The reason why CBD can be considered a food at all is a ruling from the European Court of Justice. As EFSA describes it, the Commission has assessed, in light of the ruling in case C-663/18, that CBD can be qualified as a food if the other conditions of the food regulation are met, and that CBD – because it was not widely consumed in the EU before 15 May 1997 – is classified as a novel food . It is not the case that CBD is “banned” as a substance in food; it is just not approved yet.
What is not novel food?
It is worth knowing the difference between the different parts of the hemp plant because it explains why you can buy hemp seed oil in the supermarket, but not CBD oil. The Danish Veterinary and Food Administration's guidance states that hemp seeds, seed flour, protein powder from seeds and seed oil from varieties of the hemp plant are not considered to be novel foods, while extracts of Cannabis sativa L. and derived products containing cannabinoids are covered by the novel food rules - both the extract and products where the extract is added as an ingredient. The same applies to extracts of other cannabinoid-containing plants and synthetically produced cannabinoids.
Practically, this means:
- Hemp seed oil, hemp protein and hemp seeds: common foods. You can find them in grocery stores and health food stores.
- CBD extract, full spectrum oil, isolate, gummies with cannabinoids: Novel food. Requires approval, which does not yet exist.
- Other cannabinoids such as CBG, CBN and THCA: same logic. Just because a substance is less well known does not make it exempt. If you want to understand the differences between the substances, we have a review of What are cannabinoids?.
Therefore, no CBD products have yet been approved as novel foods.
It is not that the industry has not tried. Quite the opposite. As of 27 August 2025, the Commission had received over 200 applications for CBD as a novel food, of which 17 were under risk assessment by EFSA . Yet no approval has been granted. The reason is a combination of three things: lack of data, complicated product variants and a long, formal process.
1. The data gaps are not closed
EFSA published a first status report on the safety of CBD in 2022, identifying a number of scientific gaps. When the panel updated its assessment, several of them were still open. EFSA continues to highlight data gaps on CBD's possible effects on the liver, endocrine, nervous and reproductive systems . Without data in these areas, a panel cannot conclude that consumption is safe – regardless of how many consumers use the products.
2. Applications fall short on formalities and documentation
A large proportion of applications have ended up being closed down along the way. According to a review in NutraIngredients, there has been a wave of “terminations”, where the Commission stops processing applications that are unlikely to ever be approved – typically because the applicant has not provided sufficient data . The number has fluctuated significantly from year to year: over 60 in 2022, 18 in 2023, 14 in 2024 and four in 2025.
3. There is no one “CBD”
A full-spectrum extract, a broad-spectrum extract, and a 99% isolate are three different products chemically, and approval is given to a specific specification – not to the chemical name “CBD”. The same logic applies to the production method. This is one reason why the difference between spectra is not just a matter of taste; it is also a regulatory distinction. We have elaborated on this in the article about the difference between full-spectrum, broad-spectrum, and CBD isolate.
| Key figures on CBD applications in the EU | Status |
|---|---|
| Applications received by the Commission (as of 27.08.2025) | Over 200 |
| Applications under risk assessment at EFSA (as of 27.08.2025) | 17 |
| Approved CBD products as novel food | 0 |
| Applications stopped in progress (selected years) | 60+ (2022), 18 (2023), 14 (2024), 4 (2025) |
EFSA's updated assessment: approximately 2 mg of CBD per day
On 9 February 2026, EFSA’s Panel on Nutrition, Novel Foods and Food Allergens (NDA) published an update to its opinion on the safety of CBD. What is new is that for the first time, the Panel has put a concrete figure on what can provisionally be considered a safe daily intake. By applying an uncertainty factor of 400, the Panel derived a provisional safe dose of 0,0275 mg per kg body weight per day – equivalent to approximately 2 mg per day for a 70 kg adult.
How is the number calculated?
The methodology is important to understand because it explains why the number is so low. The panel performed benchmark dose modeling on GLP-compliant subchronic studies and arrived at the provisional safe dose using an uncertainty factor of 400. The analysis was based on 90-day studies submitted as part of novel food applications by January 31, 2025, that were conducted according to Good Laboratory Practice and OECD TG 408 and used CBD with a purity greater than 95%.
An uncertainty factor of 400 is high. For comparison, a factor of 100 is often used when data is solid. The extra factor is not an expression that CBD has been found to be dangerous at low doses – it is an expression of a lack of knowledge. EFSA itself describes that the level contains an extra safety factor to protect health despite uncertainties in the available data . In other words: the number can move – in either direction – when better data comes to the table.
Who does the level apply to – and who does it not apply to?
The provisional level is not a general recommendation for everyone. It only applies to healthy adults aged 25 and over who consume CBD supplements with a purity of at least 98%, without nanoparticles and produced by processes that are considered safe and where the risk of genotoxicity is excluded . The provisional safe level does not apply to people under 25 years of age, pregnant and breastfeeding women and people undergoing medical treatment – for these groups, EFSA researchers concluded that the safety of CBD cannot be established.
| EFSA's provisional safe level (Feb. 2026) | Detail |
|---|---|
| Level per kg body weight | 0,0275 mg CBD/kg body weight/day |
| 60 kg adult (calculation example) | about 1,65 mg/day |
| Adult of 70 kg | about 2 mg/day |
| 90 kg adult (calculation example) | about 2,5 mg/day |
| Uncertainty factor | 400 |
| Product requirements in the assessment | Dietary supplement with CBD purity ≥ 98%, no nanoparticles, safe production process, genotoxicity excluded |
| Applies to | Healthy adults from 25 years of age |
| Does not apply to | People under 25 years of age, pregnant women, breastfeeding women, people undergoing medical treatment |
| Open data gaps | Liver, endocrine system, nervous system, reproduction |
Note the detail about purity of at least 98%: it effectively excludes full-spectrum and broad-spectrum extracts from what EFSA has assessed. This is the same type of high purity you would find in a pure raw material like Activated CBD Isolate – 99,8% , where the certificate of analysis documents that it is isolated CBD and not a mixed extract. This does not make the isolate an approved dietary supplement – but it illustrates how narrowly defined EFSA’s assessment is.
What does 2 mg per day mean in practice?
This is where things get concrete – and a bit uncomfortable for the industry. CBD is typically marketed as oils with 5-40% CBD dissolved in edible oil, and the products are often promoted with claims for pain (32%), anxiety (27%), sleep disorders (14%) and stress (10%) . Dosage guidelines for such products are often in the range of 10-50 mg daily. EFSA's preliminary level is therefore a fraction of common use.
A simple calculation makes the difference clear. A 10 ml bottle contains approximately 200 drops (approximately 20 drops per ml). If you divide the total CBD content by the drops, you get:
| Oil (10 ml) | Total CBD | CBD per drop (approx.) | Number of drops for approximately 2 mg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3% | 300 mg | 1,5 mg | about 1,3 drop |
| 5% | 500 mg | 2,5 mg | under 1 drop |
| 10% | 1000 mg | 5 mg | under 1 drop |
| 20% | 2000 mg | 10 mg | 1/5 drop |
| 30% | 3000 mg | 15 mg | 1/7 drop |
The numbers are a calculation example. Droplet size varies between pipettes, viscosity and temperature.
The conclusion is that in many cases a single drop of a strong oil exceeds EFSA's provisional level. That's exactly why the news got so much attention. At the same time, it's important to read the number for what it is: a cautious, provisional reference point set with a very large safety margin, because data is missing – not a limit where something specific happens if you exceed it. If you're interested in very small doses in practice, we've written about microdosing CBD.
If you want to do any math, the product should state mg per drop or mg per ml – not just a percentage. A product like Raw Hemp Oil Strong – 10ml states both total cannabinoid content and content per drop, and that’s the type of information you need to look for if you want to be able to convert to mg and compare prices across products.
How CBD products may be sold and marketed in Denmark
Here is the crux of the subject CBD novel food Denmark : as long as there is no novel food approval, CBD may not be sold as a food or dietary supplement in Denmark. This applies to oils for ingestion, gummies, capsules, beverages and anything else that is intended to be put in the mouth for nutritional or health purposes. The Danish Veterinary and Food Administration can intervene against the sale of CBD oil as a dietary supplement, and the agency has stated that some companies subsequently market their products as cosmetics instead.
The ban on health claims
Above the novel food rules are the claims rules, which are independently binding. The Claims Regulation (1924/2006) applies to all types of food, including dietary supplements, to both pre-packaged and non-pre-packaged foods and to generic marketing – and it also includes product names, designations and trademarks that may suggest a particular nutritional or health effect . Only approved claims may be used, which the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration also highlights in its overview of rules for nutrition and health claims . There are no approved health claims for CBD.
This is not a theoretical problem. In a random inspection of dietary supplements, the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration found illegal claims from more than every other company , and the agency emphasizes that companies may not claim that dietary supplements can cure diseases, relieve pain or be marketed with other illegal claims . The requirement for documentation is a consistent line in Danish guidance practice – also for special food categories, where, according to guidance material on retsinformation.dk (VEJ no. 9923 of 1 November 2024), there is a requirement that the use must be proven with generally accepted scientific data.
What you will therefore see – and not see – in Danish stores
| It is not allowed. | What you will typically encounter instead |
|---|---|
| Selling CBD oil as a dietary supplement or food | Products sold in other categories, e.g. cosmetics, aroma or collectibles |
| Dosage instructions in “drops daily” as ingestion | Instructions for external use or no instructions for ingestion |
| Claims to relieve pain, anxiety, sleep problems, or illness | Neutral description of content, strength, spectrum and analysis data |
| Comparison with medication or referral for treatment | Referral to contact your doctor |
| Words like “anti-inflammatory”, “sedative”, “painkiller” | Factual information: mg CBD, THC content, batch number, laboratory |
Also note that the same substance can fall under several sets of regulations depending on the product form and marketing: food regulations, cosmetics regulations and pharmaceutical regulations. If a product is marketed with medicinal effects, it can be assessed as a medicinal product – and then the Danish Medicines Agency's regulations apply. Therefore, it is not pedantic when a webshop writes dryly and factually about a product; it is a requirement. If you want to see what it looks like in practice in physical retail, we have looked at the CBD stores in Copenhagen in 2026.
Non-food categories
Because the food trail is closed, a large part of the Danish market is in other categories. Cosmetics with hemp oil or CBD follow the cosmetics regulations, where the product must be safety assessed and notified - we go through the use step by step in our guide to CBD and hemp skin care routine . Hemp flowers and tops such as BZ Popcorn Buds - 12% CBD are not sold as food and therefore do not have to be marketed with instructions for consumption. And if your real goal is wellness supplements, there are categories without CBD, such as mushroom extracts such as 4 Mushroom Complex Extract - 60 Capsules - here too, the general rules apply that effects that are not approved may not be claimed. We compare two of the most talked about mushrooms in the article Lion's Mane vs. Reishi.
How to evaluate a CBD product yourself
When the authorities have not approved a standard, your own documentation reading becomes more important. Here is a concrete checklist you can use, whether you are buying online or in a physical store:
- Find the Certificate of Analysis (COA). It must be linked to the batch number on your packaging - not a generic PDF from 2021.
- Check the date. An analysis older than the actual production provides no assurance about the contents of the bottle you are holding.
- Read the cannabinoid profile. Does the measured CBD content match what the label promises? And what is the THC content?
- Look for purity analyses. Heavy metals, pesticides, solvent residues and microbiology. Hemp absorbs substances from the soil, so it is not superfluous.
- Convert the price to kroner per mg of CBD. That's the only way to fairly compare a 5% oil to a 20% oil.
- Be skeptical of claims. If a seller promises effects on illness, sleep or pain, they are breaking the rules – and that says something about how thorough they are with the rest.
- Avoid products without a sender. Company name, CVR, contact information and a Danish customer service are minimum requirements.
If you need to choose between specific oils, you can use our review of how to choose the best CBD oil in Denmark , which goes into detail with spectrum, carrier oil and documentation.
What happens next?
The short answer: EFSA is still working, and the figure is not final. Provisional safe levels are set when there are gaps in the scientific basis, and EFSA will reassess the level when the necessary toxicological and/or human data become available – either from applicants or from published research . EFSA also confirms that it is continuing its work on the risk assessment of CBD.
There is also a track outside of food regulations that could be significant. In February 2025, the French agency ANSES submitted a proposal to classify CBD as suspected to be toxic to reproduction under the CLP Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008, based on studies showing adverse effects on fertility and fetal development . If such a proposal is adopted, it will affect both labeling and use broadly – not just in food.
For you as a consumer, this means three things:
- Don't expect quick approval. The process has been running since 2019 without result, and there are still open data gaps.
- Expect maximum levels if an approval comes. A novel food approval is granted for a specific specification, specific food categories and specific quantities – not as a general permit.
- Be critical of marketing that “preempts” the rules. A seller who today writes “approved by the EU” is wrong.
Practical advice if you are using CBD today
Many Danes use CBD, and the purpose of this article is not to scare people. However, EFSA's update provides some sobering pointers that are worth taking into account:
- Know your actual dose in mg. “Three drops” means nothing. Convert to mg so you know what you are actually taking.
- Start low. Regardless of what you think about the 2 mg number, it makes good sense to start small and assess how you react before increasing.
- If you are taking medication, ask your doctor first. EFSA's provisional level explicitly does not apply to people on medical treatment, and concomitant intake may affect how your body breaks down medicines.
- If you are pregnant, breastfeeding or under 25 years of age, the level does not apply to you. Safety could not be established for those groups.
- Keep your documentation. Save the batch number and certificate of analysis. If you experience an unexpected reaction, this is the information a doctor or authority can use.
- Separate the product categories. Cosmetics for the skin, aroma products for their purpose, and keep track of what you consume and what you don't.
If you prefer a product form with a low and fixed content per unit rather than drops, there are also products such as CBD Chewing Gum Peppermint – 10 pcs and Raw Hemp Oil Medium – Capsules , where the amount per unit is defined in advance. This makes it easier to keep track of how much you get – regardless of the pipette technique.
FAQ about CBD, novel food and the rules in Denmark
Does EFSA's 2 mg mean that CBD is now approved as a dietary supplement?
No. A provisional safe level is a scientific reference point in the risk assessment, not a market approval. Oral CBD products are still not approved under the novel food regulations , and approval requires a decision from the European Commission for a specific specification and use.
Can I buy and use CBD myself in Denmark?
The rules are aimed at sales and marketing, not at you as a private individual using a product. However, you should be aware that CBD products in Denmark cannot be legally sold or marketed as food or dietary supplements, and that there are separate rules for THC content. If you are in doubt about a specific product, the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration and the Danish Medicines Agency have the authoritative assessment.
Why is 2 mg so low compared to the doses mentioned everywhere?
Because the number is set with an uncertainty factor of 400 to compensate for missing data – not because harm has been demonstrated at 3 mg. The method is intentionally conservative. As more studies become available, the level may be adjusted.
Does novel food also apply to hemp seed oil and hemp protein?
No. Hemp seeds, seed flour, seed protein powder and seed oil from hemp varieties are not considered novel foods. It is the extracts with cannabinoids – and products where they are added – that are covered.
What about CBG, CBN, THCA and synthetic cannabinoids?
Same set of rules. The novel food rules also cover extracts of other cannabinoid-containing plants as well as synthetically produced cannabinoids. Just because a cannabinoid is new to the market does not give it a shortcut.
When will approval come?
No one can say. There are over 200 applications in the system and 17 under risk assessment by EFSA as of August 2025, but many applications have been stopped midway due to insufficient data. Realistically, the timeline depends on how quickly the missing toxicological and human data are provided.
Sources
- EFSA NDA Panel: Update of the statement on safety of cannabidiol as a novel food, EFSA Journal 2026;24(2):e9862
- EFSA – European Food Safety Authority
- Full text of EFSA's updated statement on CBD as a novel food (PMC)
- Danish Veterinary and Food Administration: Nutrition and health claims – legal material
- Danish Veterinary and Food Administration: How to use health claims
- Danish Veterinary and Food Administration: Dietary supplements are sold with illegal claims (2025)
- Danish Veterinary and Food Administration: Control of health claims on dietary supplements (2024)
- Legal information: Guidance on the Claims Regulation (1924/2006) and dietary supplements
- Legal information: ROAD no. 9923 of 01/11/2024
- Cannabis Denmark: Update from the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration on CBD, dietary supplements and novel food
- Food Safety Magazine: EU Sets Provisional Safe Level for CBD as Novel Food
- NutraIngredients: EFSA updated CBD safety report – data gaps and 2 mg/day
- NutraIngredients: EU continues CBD scrutiny (2026)
- CIRS Group: EFSA Establishes Provisional Safe Level for CBD Intake in Adults
- ECA Academy: EFSA sets Cannabidiol (CBD) Safety Limit
- Medscape: European Food Safety Authority Flags Cannabidiol Safety Gaps
Summary
The situation in 2026 can be boiled down to two sentences: CBD is still not approved as a novel food in the EU, and therefore CBD products may not be sold or marketed as food, dietary supplements or with health claims in Denmark. EFSA's update from February 2026 does not change that – it provides a provisional safe level of approximately 2 mg of CBD daily for a 70 kg adult, set with a large safety margin, because data on the liver, hormonal system, nervous system and reproduction are still missing. As a consumer, your best strategy is therefore unchanged: know your product, know your dose in mg, read the certificate of analysis, and stay away from sellers who promise effects they are not allowed to promise.
If you want to see what it looks like in practice, you can review the selection of CBD oils and the criteria we recommend choosing according to , or look at top picks like BZ Popcorn Buds – 12% CBD . If you have any doubts about strength, spectrum, documentation or which product category suits your needs, you are welcome to contact our Danish customer service – we are happy to answer the specifics, even when the answer is that a product cannot be used as you had intended.
Disclaimer: The products on CBDanmark are not medicine and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease. The information in this article is general information about regulations and regulatory assessments and does not constitute health or legal advice. Always consult your own doctor before using CBD – especially if you are taking medication, pregnant or breastfeeding.