Flying from the UK: Can You Bring CBD Oil on a Plane?

It is something to think about each time some one has a routine using CBD wellness products flies. They have left their bottle of CBD product (they paid a decent price) on the bathroom counter, and the thought of leaving it there for two weeks seems like an inconvenience. Can you take your CBD product?

Honesty tells us; maybe, maybe not. And, how we interpret the distinction may mean significantly more to most people than they realize prior to arrival at the airport. There is nothing arbitrary in the regulations, but they do exist in layers and the repercussions of misinterpreting those layers while traveling to the wrong countries could be quite severe.

The UK Starting Point

The UK’s laws regarding CBD depend on how many of two specified regulations are met. For example, if a CBD product contains less than 1mg of THC per package and was grown from an industrial hemp variety that has been approved then it can legally be sold. Many CBD products sold by U.K.-based companies also meet these criteria because they have a Novel Foods license, which is issued by the Food Standards Agency. However, while there is no illegal way to take CBD products through a U.K. airport to leave the country, Border Force is most concerned with illegal controlled substances. If you have CBD products that comply with all the necessary requirements, they will not be considered controlled substances.

At airports in the U.K., security are not interested in CBD products because their concerns are limited to items like large quantities of liquid greater than 100ml, prohibited items, etc., and/or possible health risks. In other words, once your in the UK and ready to leave, the process is relatively easy.

The Destination Is What Determines the Risk

CBD legal status varies greatly from country to country and in some cases between different part of the same country. A product that is considered an ordinary wellness product in London may be classified as controlled substance at your destination. This doesn’t have anything to do with what’s printed on label or what u.k. Law says.

• Within Europe, rules are broadly permissive but not uniform. For example, in Germany, Netherlands, Spain and France products containing CBD with very low level of THC (THC) are generally tolerated by authorities. French customs are worth mentioning here as they occasionally seem to take stricter view on CBD than their neighbours but enforcement is very much variable. Switzerland, which is outside the e.u., has even more liberal policy towards CBD than the united kingdom allowing up to 1% THC.
• United states provides its own unique complexity. Under federal law hemp-derived CBD products with THC content less than .03% are legal since 2018 farm bill. However, federal law governs airports and international borders, and TSA policy states officers will referr any discovery of cannabis products to local authority. It’s most probably only going to result in chat about proper formulation of CBD oil instead of anything else, but it is still something you should know about.
• UAE, Singapore, Japan and vast majority of south-east asia present completely different story. These jurisdictions treat products derived from cannabis with extremely serious approach and fact that your CBD oil is legal in u.k. Will be absolutely useless when dealing with their authorities. Possession of cannabis derivatives can lead to imprisonment in Singapore. Even though there was no product found in the body of person, trace amount of THC in blood test has been used as justification for prosecution in UAE. These are not places where one should experiment with CBD travel.
• Thailand recently switched back to strict regulation after a short while of cannabis liberalization. All of these explanations why it is essential to check current rules applicable to specific location you are going to rather than rely on news from last year

The Liquid Rules Still Apply

Even if CBD oil is completely legal in your destination, you are still required to follow standard aviation restrictions on liquids. The restrictions for carry-ons include that each container must be 100ml (or less) and that ALL containers must fit into ONE resealable clear plastic ziplock style bag measuring 20 x 20 cm. Each traveler may have one such bag. If you have a 10 ml or 30 ml CBD tincture there will be no issues with this. However, if you have a 200 ml CBD oil bottle, you will run afoul of the regulations regardless of how much CBD is actually contained in the bottle.

✈️ Practical Steps Before You Fly

1. The best way to minimize your risks when traveling with CBD products involves taking several simple steps. First, research the laws regarding CBD products at both your destination and while en route, as regulations can vary from place to place. Government Travel Advisories and your intended destinations Customs Authority website tend to be more informative than most cannabis-focused blogs.
2. Second, keep the products in their original packaging. Products that are labeled will generally attract less scrutiny than those without labeling (e.g., ingredient lists, Batch Numbers, etc.).
3. Third, if you feel comfortable doing so, print out a copy of your independent lab test results for the THC content levels of the product. This may be advisable if you are planning to visit an area where there is a greater likelihood of encountering a more restrictive regulatory environment.
4. Fourth, if in doubt about whether or not to declare your CBD products; then it is probably safer to declare them. Many customs forms have a “Miscellaneous” section for declaring all types of Medications and Supplements, and declaring CBD products usually provides a lesser penalty than failing to declare CBD products.

Stay with Weed Wonderland Blog

As long as you have a product that meets the requirements (properly made and in the appropriate volume), CBD products can legally leave the United Kingdom. What isn’t clear is if you’ll be able to take them into the country of your destination. In general, Europe and North America will allow travel with CBD oil while countries such as those located in the Gulf, Eastern Asia, and Southern Asia tend to require that you leave the product behind or thoroughly investigate their laws before attempting to enter. As the regulations regarding CBD continue to evolve, what was true 18 months ago may no longer be true today. Check the most recent regulations, have all of your paperwork available should customs ask for it and avoid taking the risk.