The Association for the Cannabinoid Industry (ACI) – which represents several of the largest CBD companies operating in the UK – has today announced the opening a new office in Brussels, Belgium.
The cannabinoid trade group hopes the new venture will help expand its services into the European Union (EU).
Given the UK’s recent exit from the EU, the presence of the Brussels office could help coordinate the trade of European CBD products into the lucrative UK market and vice versa.
In a statement, the ACI said the office will enable the trade body to provide its members with bespoke regulatory services, such as assisting with novel foods applications to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and lobbying efforts on behalf of its members within the European institutions.
“Our expansion into Brussels perfectly complements our existing work in the UK and strengthens our consultancy team who are advising clients on their European interests, particularly in the wake of Brexit and the accelerating regulation of legal cannabinoid products around the world,” Steve Moore, ACI’s co-founder, said in the statement.
In the UK, the ACI has helped many CBD companies process their novel foods applications for the UK’s own regulator, the Food Standards Agency (FSA). As of April 26, the FSA had given its initial approval to 43 products under 6 different brands.
The new office is located on Square de Meeûs, Brussels.