CBD chewing gum: the legal framework and buying wisely in France

A chewing gum releases its compounds gradually in the mouth, by the oral route, which in legal terms makes it a product intended for ingestion, on the same footing as an ordinary chewing gum or a drink. The CBD in it is absorbed partly through the buccal mucosa and partly swallowed with the saliva.

It is this characteristic that places CBD chewing gum in the same regulatory category as food gummies, as our article on tart cherry and CBD explains: a CBD product designed to be consumed by the oral route comes under the Novel Food regulation, unlike a cosmetic applied to the skin.

European regulation 2015/2283 requires that any ingredient little consumed in the EU before 15 May 1997 obtain authorisation before being sold. On 9 February 2026 the EFSA published an extremely low provisionally safe daily dose, around 2 mg a day for a 70 kg adult.

Since 15 May 2026 the DGAL has been withdrawing from the French market CBD food products without a validated dossier: gummies, chewing gums, infusions made from buds, drinks. Flowers, resins, cosmetics and e-liquids are not affected by this restriction.

An abnormally low price should alert you, not tempt you. A CBD isolate generally costs less to produce than a full spectrum, which legitimately explains price gaps; on the other hand, a product with no available certificate of analysis, no DGCCRF declaration number, or no verifiable contact details for the brand should be avoided, whatever its price.

Before buying, always check the batch certificate of analysis: it states the real CBD content, confirms THC below 0.30 % and rules out the presence of prohibited cannabinoids such as HHC or THCP. An affordable, compliant product does exist; an affordable product with no traceability exposes you to a real risk.

For use in the mouth, hemp flowers and resins remain authorised and sold in physical shops or online, provided the THC content is compliant. CBD cosmetics, such as lip balms, come under a separate framework and remain sellable. Among food products, infusions of leaves without buds stay outside the Novel Food perimeter.

CBD is not a medicine. If you have any doubt about a product's compliance, contact the brand's customer service or consult the DGCCRF.

Is CBD chewing gum still legally sold in France?

No, not without Novel Food authorisation. Since 15 May 2026 the DGAL has been withdrawing these products from the French market, for want of a validated European authorisation dossier for this type of preparation.

Why is CBD chewing gum treated as a food product?

Because it is meant to be chewed and then partly swallowed, which exposes it to absorption by the oral route. That characteristic places it in the same legal category as CBD gummies and drinks.

How can I spot a CBD product that is cheap but reliable?

Check for a recent certificate of analysis, the brand's DGCCRF declaration number, and consistency between the price and the nature of the product (an isolate naturally costs less than a full spectrum).

What should I do with CBD chewing gums bought before 2026?

Products bought before 15 May 2026 may be kept for personal use. Brands, on the other hand, have not been able to place them back on sale since the Novel Food framework came into force.