GovWire

Webinar information

Paul Tossell will outline the FSA position regarding regulation of cannabidiol (CBD). Tabatha Hambidge (LGC) will then provide an overview of the analysis of novel foods for the presence of CBD, which will cover:

• What is CBD?

• How is CBD obtained?

• How does CBD differ from other cannabinoids that are controlled?

• Why is CBD used in food supplements and other consumer products?

• How can we test for the presence of CBD in food supplements and other consumer products?

The presentations will be followed by a Q&A session, during which you can pose your questions to our experts.

This event is intended for individuals currently working within the food testing arena, the food industry and those involved with the UK official control system.

This is the fifth webinar in the Webinar Series of the Joint Knowledge Transfer Framework for Food Standards and Food Safety Analysis, which is a cross-government project (funded by Defra, Food Standards Agency, Food Standards Scotland and DSIT via the Government Chemist programme) aimed at disseminating knowledge from government funded research to stakeholders to support UK laboratory capability and promote best practice in food safety and standards analysis.

About the speakers

Paul Tossell, Head of Novel Foods and Radiological Policy Team, Food Standards Agency (FSA)

Paul has been Head of Novel Foods and Radiological Policy Team at the FSA since January 2019. He has overseen policy development on CBD and novel alternative protein compliance with novel food regulations, including the move towards compliance of edible insects. Paul has been with the FSA since its formation in 2000, having previously worked for the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF). Other previous roles have been leading on food defence and hypersensitivity.

Tabatha Hambidge, LGC

Tabatha joined the LGC Organic Mass Spectrometry Team from Charles River Laboratories in 2018 and is now a Researcher and part-time PhD student employed in the areas of clinical, food and consumer product safety. She recently coordinated the Government Chemist CBD and controlled cannabinoid interlaboratory comparison and is currently involved with work to advancing metrology in multi-analyte, controlled drug analysis.

About the panel

Christopher Hopley, LGC

Chris has more than 20 years experience in organic mass spectrometry (OMS) analysis for food, forensics, environmental, clinical and consumer products. Chris has over 50 peer reviewed publications and external presentations. The OMS team led by Chris Hopley has successfully developed and validated 100s of methods for food, forensics, environmental, clinical and consumer/cosmetics products.

Ian Axford (LGC)

Ian Axford is a scientist in the Office of the Government Chemist at LGC supporting the Government Chemist function reviewing policy, standards and regulations relating to analytical chemical measurements. Activities also include advising UK government on chemicals in consumer products and contributing to the development of product safety standards as a member of several British and European standardisation committees and working groups.

Selvarani Elahi MBE

Selvarani Elahi is the Deputy Government Chemist at LGC and the Executive Director of the Food Authenticity Network. Selvarani has over25 years experience in the analysis of food and agriculture samples working across a variety of policy areas, with government departments and different stakeholder groups, to improve standards in measurement science. She worked with Defra, FSA & FSS to set-up the Joint Knowledge Transfer Framework for Food Standards and Food Safety Analysis in 2017.

Event agenda

• Introduction

• Why regulate CBD by Paul Tossell

• Testing for CBD by Tabatha Hambidge

• Q&A Session chaired by Selvarani Elahi