Nowadays, cannabis is seemingly everywhere, especially CBD. Once the 2018 Farm Bill legalized hemp nationwide, the compound started appearing in everything from skincare to pillows. CBD pet products experienced a particularly dramatic surge in popularity, thanks to the cannabinoid’s perceived abilities to ease separation anxiety, joint pain, and other common ailments in animals. However, it appears the federal government may be cracking down on the category after a series of warning letters targeting pet brands were sent out.
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In a letter sent to members, the National Animal Supplement Council (NASC) highlighted warning letters sent to three companies over the marketing and sale of pet products containing CBD and functional mushroom supplements. The warning letters were sent after the companies were found to be making health claims about their products, saying they “intended to diagnose, cure, mitigate, treat, or prevent disease in animals, classifying them as new animal drugs under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act).”
New animal drugs must be approved by the government, just like human medications. One brand had products specifically labeled as a “remedy” for tumors, cysts, and infections in dogs. Since CBD has not been approved as a treatment for these conditions, the claims are in violation of the law.
The FDA expressed concern about another company recommending that its CBD products be used in food-producing animals, such as chickens. In its warning letter, officials pointed to potential “residues” that may develop in the eggs, milk, or meat of animals taking CBD, saying they may be unfit for human consumption.
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Many CBD companies have been targeted over the years for making unapproved health claims. However, the NASC cautioned that the FDA “is stepping up inspections and other actions from compliance and surveillance,” specifically targeting pet brands. While research has shown that CBD may have potential benefits for animals, the compound has yet to be approved by the FDA for these uses.
Pet parents should proceed with caution when it comes to CBD, especially since the market is unregulated. And with the government seeming to crack down, manufacturers must ensure their products are labeled and marketed without any overt claims about what they can do.
