The Consumer Brands Association has formed a new alliance with retail, law enforcement, and other groups to push for more oversight of the of cannabidiol industry amid an increase in product claims around the prevention or treatment of COVID-19.
The Coalition for Smart CBD Regulation includes the National Association of Convenience Stores, the Retail Industry Leaders Association, and the National Confectioners Association, as well as national law-enforcement groups and an online consumer watchdog organization.
“The coronavirus gave CBD bad actors yet another opportunity to peddle cure-alls devoid of scientific backing, crystallizing our need for greater research and federal oversight of the marketplace,” said Geoff Freeman, president and CEO of the CBA.
The formation of the new coalition is the latest in a series of actions taken by the CBA to push for more federal oversight of CBD and “clear, uniform guidance” on its use. CBD is a chemical from the hemp plant that is classified as a drug by the Food and Drug Administration and therefore prohibited as an ingredient in foods and beverages, although several states have loosened restrictions on its use. Proponents of CBD say it reduces anxiety and inflammation and works as a sleep aid.
In January, the CBA formed a CBD advisory board to assist in its efforts to increase federal oversight. It also submitted a funding request for research on the health and safety of CBD and more resources for market surveillance and enforcement to the U.S. House of Representatives.
Among recent law enforcement actions against CBD marketers, New York Attorney General Letitia James issued a cease and desist order against Finest Herbalist, which had been promoting its Pure Herbal Total Defense Immunity Blend as a cure or defense against COVID-19.
“By misrepresenting the effectiveness of products against COVID-19, companies like Finest Herbalist are giving consumers a false sense of security, putting their very lives at risk,” James said in a statement. “Deceptive marketing is never acceptable, especially during a time of crisis; this is a matter of public health and safety.”
Before the coronavirus outbreak, the CBA had been seeking to call attention to CBD makers’ claims around other diseases, including cancer. The association’s research found that 21 percent of consumers who had purchased CBD said they did so to alleviate cancer symptoms. In addition, 21 percent also said they purchased CBD to treat a neurological disorder, 25 percent did so to improve heart health and 27 percent did so to enhance bone health.
The rapid spread of COVID-19 across the country, however, has led to a proliferation of new claims for CBD products and other unproven remedies.
Last week the Federal Trade Commission said it had sent out 50 letters to companies ordering them to stop making false claims about their products’ efficacy in treating or preventing COVID-19. It was the fifth round of letters the FTC sent out for this purpose targeting a total of 120 companies.
Among the products touted as treating or preventing COVID-19 are those made from elderberries, mushrooms, colloidal silver, and various herbs and essential oils, as well as CBD. Other claims promote the use of music therapy, ozone therapy, and acupuncture.
In the letters, the FTC states that one or more of the efficacy claims made by the marketers are unsubstantiated because they are not supported by scientific evidence, and therefore violate the FTC Act. The letters advise the recipients to immediately stop making all claims that their products can treat or cure COVID-19.
Last month the FTC reached an agreement with Whole Leaf Organics that bars the company from promoting its Thrive capsules as treatments or preventative treatments for COVID-19. The FTC has also issued an administrative complaint against Whole Leaf Organics for its efforts to market three CBD supplements as effective cancer treatments.
“There's no proof that any product will prevent or treat COVID-19 or that any CBD product will treat cancer,” said Andrew Smith, director of the Bureau of Consumer Protection, in a statement.
Related: Regulatory Conference Call Recording: CBD in Foods and Beverages; CBA Launches CBD Advisory Board.
from Industry Operations https://ift.tt/2ZCO1yJ
No comments: