Australia's Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has confirmed it will not follow the United Kingdom's lead in cutting the recommended daily dose of CBD, as Cann Group said it was taken aback by the move from the UK's Food Standards Agency (FSA).
The FSA and Food Standards Scotland last week issued "precautionary advice" to consumers to cap their daily CBD intake at 10mg, a sharp reduction from the previous 70mg guidance.
The regulators cited concerns about liver damage and thyroid problems linked to the long-term use of cannabidiol.
The TGA acknowledged the UK change but stated it had no intention of revisiting the 150mg maximum daily dose it has established for any future schedule 3 therapeutic product.
The TGA did note, however, that should sufficient new evidence emerge, "the TGA could review the maximum daily dose cut-off for cannabidiol in Schedule 3."
The regulator also took the opportunity to restate that no pharmacy-only products containing cannabidiol are currently available on the Australian market.
Cann Group, which sells several products through its Satipharm range in UK retail stores, is among the Australian brands listed on a public register of approved CBD products.
Bod Science and Elixinol, the latter through its partnership with British Cannabis, also appear on that list. None of the products have yet received formal authorisation from the FSA.
Cann Group said in an interview it was examining the evidence the FSA used to justify its decision to lower the recommended daily dose from 70mg to 10mg.
"The decision was surprising," a Cann Group spokesperson said: "We are looking at the data used as the basis for this decision and will contemplate a response once we have time to consider what is suitable. We will consider our position once we have had time to properly review [the data]."
Although the ruling could weigh on CBD sales across the UK, Cann Group noted that all but one of Satipharm's products are 10mg capsules.
"The impact will likely be less than other brands," the company said, adding that it will "review customer reaction."
Bod Science, Elixinol and British Cannabis have been approached for comment.
