Tag: Food and Drug Administration

FDA and Florida are Taking Opposite Stance on Ingestible CBD

Posted on January 20, 2020 by - Government Affairs

As part of an ambitious new state hemp program, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (the “Department”) announced that new food safety and animal feed rules went into effect as of January 1, 2020. Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried stated that the new regulations are crucial in “getting the state hemp program up and running to provide a new alternative crop for farmers, allow Floridians to access safe, quality CBD products, and help [the] state reach its potential as the nation’s gold standard for hemp.” These new regulations are intended to support the continued sale of hemp and its derivatives products, including CBD, while ensuring that consumers are protected.

Under the new regulations, any hemp extract or product containing hemp extract intended for human ingestion and for animal ingestion will be regulated by the Department. Any business that manufactures, processes, packages, holds, prepares or sells food made from or containing hemp extract is required to obtain a Hemp Food Establishment Permit to operate in Florida. Food consisting of hemp or hemp extract (including CBD) must be obtained from an “Approved Source” that meets certain local, state or federal food safety standards. Such foods are also subject to specific labeling requirements. Food containing hemp extract must have a THC concentration of less than 0.3% on a dry weight basis and the food must contain less than set limits of certain contaminants used in the hemp cultivation process. As part of the on-going efforts to minimize risk of foodborne illnesses, the Department will conduct routine inspections on such businesses.

Significantly, the new regulations allowing sale of ingestible hemp and hemp-derivative products runs counter to the United States Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) current stance on these products. Despite the 2018 Farm Bill legalizing hemp with a THC concentration of less than 0.3% on a dry weight basis, CBD products are still subject to FDA’s laws and regulations, including those that apply to foods, beverages and dietary supplements. In this vein, FDA stated that “[i]t is currently illegal to market CBD by adding it to a food or labeling it as a dietary supplement.”

In the wake of FDA’s regulations on CBD products, a spate of class action lawsuits have been filed by consumers against CBD manufacturers mimicking FDA’s concern over illegal sale of CBD products including ingestibles for human and animal consumption. Meanwhile, U.S. District Judge Ursula for the Southern District Court of Florida in a class action lawsuit ruled on January 3, 2020 that a CBD manufacturer should not face certain liability claims until FDA finishes work reviewing CBD policy. In her opinion, Judge Ursula stated that the FDA’s current rules “provide little guidance with respect to whether CBD ingestibles, in all their variations are food supplements, nutrients or additives and what labeling standards are applicable.”

How Frier Levitt Can Help
Certainly, Florida’s newly enacted regulations have opened a door while further complicating the legality of ingestible hemp and hemp-derived products, which in turn impact industry Stakeholders including the extractors, manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers. While many states will choose to wait until FDA issues its much-anticipated regulatory framework for hemp-derivative and CBD products, we envision that more states may take the necessary steps to enact regulations similar to Florida’s. Given the clash between federal and state laws, it is crucial for Stakeholders in the hemp industry to understand the current laws and regulations. If you need assistance navigating the regulatory environment for hemp, CBD or other cannabis-derived products, contact Frier Levitt today to speak with an attorney.

FDA Issues 15 New Warning Letters to CBD Companies and Publishes Consumer Update

Posted on December 2, 2019 by - Government Affairs

By: Adam S. Bloom, Esq. and John E. Morrone, Esq.

On November 25, 2019, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued warning letters to 15 companies selling cannabidiol (CBD) and published a revised Consumer Update broadly detailing its safety concerns regarding CBD products. In addition, the FDA said it intends to provide an update “in the coming weeks” on its progress towards developing a regulatory approach to CBD products.

Each of the companies that received warning letters sold their products online in “interstate commerce.”  The products sold include a wide range of CBD products including oils, creams, tinctures, capsules, dietary supplements, human foods (such as gummies and chocolates) and animal foods. As has been the case in each of their previous CBD-related warning letters, the FDA focused its attention on companies that market CBD products with claims that the products cure, mitigate, treat or prevent diseases such as cancer, diabetes, opioid addiction, schizophrenia, multiple sclerosis, autism, Crohn’s disease, depression, and arthritis.

Although each of the targeted companies made illegal disease claims, the FDA made it a point to emphasize that the CBD foods (including animal foods) and dietary supplement products were in further violation of the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FDCA). The FDA stated it is illegal to introduce into interstate commerce human or animal food containing CBD because CBD is an unapproved food additive – it is not Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) among qualified experts, and no food additive regulation authorizes its use in foods. The FDA also noted that CBD cannot be marketed as a dietary supplement because it does not meet the definition of a dietary supplement under the FDCA.

Additionally, the FDA emphasized its concern with the marketing of CBD products to children. For example, they called out a CBD product named “Asteroid Gummies” which was advertised with the claim that consumers can give the product “as a treat to your kid[.]”

Significantly, in the revised Consumer Update, the FDA conveyed its belief that there are many unanswered questions and data gaps about CBD safety and that the limited data it has seen regarding CBD point to “real risks.” The FDA’s safety concerns regarding CBD include potential liver injury, the effect of interactions with other drugs, drowsiness, diarrhea, changes in mood, effects on male reproductive health, impact on vulnerable populations such as children and pregnant or breast-feeding women, and the cumulative effects of CBD use.

In an FDA press release issued in conjunction with the warning letters and the revised Consumer Update, the FDA Principal Deputy Commissioner Amy Abernathy, M.D., Ph.D., emphasized that they are monitoring the CBD marketplace and will take action against companies that “violate the law in ways that raise a variety of health concerns.” She added that FDA believes there are “knowledge gaps” about the science, safety, and quality of many CBD products and that the FDA is concerned that people wrongly believe many CBD products have been evaluated by the FDA and determined to be safe or that trying CBD “can’t hurt.”

By issuing 15 new warning letters and articulating its concerns regarding CBD safety, FDA has reiterated its commitment to overseeing the CBD industry and demonstrated the risks of marketing CBD products without a thorough understanding of the unsettled and complex CBD regulatory environment. If you need assistance navigating the regulatory environment for CBD or other cannabis-derived products, contact Frier Levitt today to speak with an attorney.

The FDA and FTC issue Warning Letter to Florida CBD Company for Unsubstantiated Disease Claims and Marketing to Children

Posted on October 23, 2019 by - Government Affairs

On October 10, 2019, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued a joint warning letter to Florida-based Rooted Apothecary, LLC, for selling cannabidiol (CBD) products with unsubstantiated claims that the products treat or cure a variety of serious diseases and health conditions, including claims that the products treat certain conditions in infants. The warning letter reflects the FDA’s continuing concern over CBD products marketed for therapeutic or medical uses, and emphasizes the FDA’s concern over CBD products marketed for use by infants and/or children.

The FDA found various products marketed by Rooted Apothecary to be unapproved new drugs because the company’s website and its social media website included claims that the products are intended to diagnose, cure, mitigate, treat or prevent diseases including Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, depression, anxiety, PTSD, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), cancer, and diabetes.

In addition, the FDA found that Rooted Apothecary unlawfully marketed certain CBD products as dietary supplements. As noted in previous warning letters, the FDA considers products containing CBD to be excluded from the definition of dietary supplements because CBD is the active ingredient in the FDA-approved drug Epidiolex, and CBD was not marketed as a dietary supplement or conventional food prior to the authorization of the clinical investigations of Epidiolex.

The FDA was particularly concerned that Rooted Apothecary markets certain CBD products to infants and children. For example, the company claimed that the “Teeth/TMJ – Essential Oil + CBD Infusion” product will “help calm the inflammation and pain of teething, while also promoting sleepiness for your little one.” The “Ears – Essential Oil + CBD Infusion” product included the claim, “We formulated this for the entire family including our precious little ones.” Further, the company’s website included webpages with statements such as “CBD oil . . . seems like an attractive and safe option for children” and “children can use high amounts of CBD safely and without any risk.”

Regarding the warning letter, Acting FDA Commissioner Ned Sharpless, M.D., said, “We are working to protect Americans from companies marketing products with unsubstantiated claims that they prevent, diagnose, treat or cure a number of diseases or conditions. This is especially concerning when companies are peddling unproven CBD products for use in vulnerable populations like infants and children.” Dr. Sharpless added, “We’ve sent numerous warning letters that focus on matters of significant public health concern to CBD companies, and these actions should send a message to the broader market about complying with FDA requirements.”

The FTC warned Rooted Apothecary that it is concerned that the company lacks the requisite “competent and reliable scientific evidence” to substantiate claims that its products can prevent, treat or cure human disease.

This latest warning letter from the FDA and FTC again highlights the potential pitfalls of marketing CBD products without a thorough understanding of the unsettled and complex regulatory environment for such products. If you need assistance navigating the regulatory environment for CBD or other cannabis-derived products, contact Frier Levitt today to speak with an attorney.

Federal Trade Commission Issues New Warning Letters for CBD Products

Posted on September 20, 2019 by - Government Affairs

On September 10, 2019, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued warning letters to three unidentified companies that sell cannabidiol (CBD) products with claims that the products treat or cure serious diseases or health conditions. The warning letters send a message to the CBD industry that any such claims must be supported by sound scientific data.  Specifically, FTC requires competent and reliable scientific evidence to support any claims that a product prevents, treats or cures a medical condition.

One company claimed that its CBD product relieves pain better than prescription opioid painkillers, and was “clinically proven” by “thousands of hours of research” to treat cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia and colitis.

A second company claimed that its CBD products are proven to treat a litany of serious diseases including autism, anorexia, schizophrenia, ALS, stroke, Parkinson’s disease, Crohn’s disease and AIDS.

The third company claimed its CBD gummies were highly effective in treating “the root cause of most major degenerative diseases, including arthritis, heart disease, fibromyalgia, cancer, asthma, and wide spectrum of autoimmune disorders” along with various other serious conditions.

FTC warned these companies that selling CBD products without competent and reliable scientific evidence substantiating their claims could violate the FTC Act and may result in legal action resulting in penalties including injunction and the return of money to consumers.

These warning letters echo the March 2019 warning letters sent jointly by FTC and the Food and Drug Administration warning companies against making disease claims without adequate substantiation.

This latest round of warning letters highlights the potential pitfalls of marketing CBD products without a thorough understanding of the unsettled and complex regulatory environment for such products. If you need assistance navigating the regulatory environment for CBD or other cannabis-derived products, contact Frier Levitt Government Affairs to speak with an attorney.

Service Spotlight: Engaging in Regulatory Comments to Protect Company Operations & Margins

Posted on May 29, 2019 by - Government Affairs

Proposed regulations are something that are underutilized by healthcare and life sciences supply chain entities. While legislation captures all the excitement with lobbying and either amending or passing new laws, when it comes to healthcare, the gaps legislation oftentimes leaves open-ended are left to an agency to do the details of filling in the gaps. For example, specifics on reimbursement or licensing changes are usually done by the likes of CMS, FDA, HRSA or state departments of insurance.

Changes are done via rulemaking, which are found in the federal or state register. Through proposed rules, agencies give stakeholders an opportunity to comment on a rule change, which starts a certain timed process.

Participation in agency rulemakings are key because these rules affect the finer points of your operation. Additionally, not knowing about a change in these critical rules can oftentimes result in adverse action from an agency like a fine or a warning letter if your compliance is not up to date.

Frier Levitt Government Affairs (FLGA) guides healthcare and life sciences stakeholders through the regulatory comment process. FLGA looks at your business model, monitors for proposals that will impact you, and counsels you on strategic next steps. Additionally, healthcare and life sciences stakeholders will get the benefit of working with boutique healthcare law firm Frier Levitt, LLC, who will help ensure that your company stays compliant with any news rules that are promulgated.

FLGA offers a hybrid service flexible with an organization’s changing needs. We monitor and forecast regulatory issues of importance in a concise, easy to understand and time friendly format. Our monitoring and forecasting services allow stakeholders to stay educated and engaged on new developments before the trends become mainstream.

With regulations changing all the time, it is imperative for healthcare and life sciences stakeholders and organizations to be proactive instead of reactive. Contact Frier Levitt Government Affairs today to get “in the know” and finally be prepared for regulatory changes ahead.

FDA Seeking Comments on New Guidance Regarding Rare Diseases

Posted on April 8, 2019 by - Government Affairs

The FDA has released a new draft guidance document titled, “Rare Diseases: Natural History Studies for Drug Development.” The guidance document impacts pharmacy supply chain stakeholders, especially drug manufacturers and specialty interests.

What Does the Guidance Do?

According to the FDA, the Agency is publishing this draft guidance to help inform the design and implementation of natural history studies that can be used to support the development of safe and effective drugs and biological products for rare diseases. A natural history study collects information about the natural history of a disease in the absence of an intervention, from the disease’s onset until either its resolution or the individual’s death. Although knowledge of a disease’s natural history can benefit drug development for many disorders and conditions, natural history information is usually not available or is incomplete for most rare diseases, therefore, natural history information is particularly needed for these diseases.

Why You Should Participate:

If you are supply chain stakeholder looking to diversify your business into biological products or to serve rare disease patients, the trend is pointing towards greater utilization of specialty products. Comments are suggested to ensure that the government has your viewpoint in mind when developing further guidance and proposed rules.

There are multiple ways to respond to the “Rare Diseases: Natural History Studies for Drug Development” guidance document. Contact Frier Levitt Government Affairs to have your voice heard.